RACING AT RANGIORA.

Press, Volume XXVII, Issue 3695, 25 May 1877, Page 3

RACING AT RANGIORA.

On. the Queen's birthday a number of the sporting fraternity had decided to have a'few races, and, although no publicity had been given, the amusements during the afternoon were well attended. The weather was favorable, and the race course was in excellent order. At a meeting held at Roberta's Glob Hotel on Tuesday, Messrs Parsons, W. Buss, Greene, H. Moody, J. Roberts, S. Wilson, Murfit, and J. Wheeler had been duly appointed a committee to manage the racing .proceedings. Captain Parsons was elected judge; Mr Murfit, starter; Mr J. Lilly, clerk of the course; and Messrs Suss, Moody, and Captain Parsons, handicappers. The attendance was yery fair, considering the limited notice given, and, although the

racing was confined to Bangiora horses, the result of the racing wae considered very satisfactory. The committee had a booth on the ground, "but the want of a publicans' booth was manifest by the demands for" refreshers." The Queen's Plate was won by Fairy Queen, which was certainly the best in the lot. Jimmy, the only dangerous one, does not warm'into his work under twoXmiles. In the District race Manuka came in first, although Disturbance wae greatly fancied and laid against. The Handicap Plat race was won by Caststeel, the favorite, Tommy Dodd, laying out a course of his own in the direction of his owner's stables at Rangiora. Mosquito won the Hurry Skurry with ease. The events were:—

Queen's Bibthdat Plate Handicap of 10 8ovs; distance, one mile. Mr S. Wilson's b f Fairy Queen, 3 yrs, Bst 101b •: (E.Jones) 1 Mr M. Duncan's g f Caststeel, 3 yrs, 7st 7st (R. Parsons) 2 Mr H. Murfit's eh c Malton, 3 yrs, 7st 101b (G. Murfit) 0 Mr G. Cone's b g Jimmy, aged, lOst (H. Moody) 0 Mr J. Bnrt's b g Supplejack, 3 yrs, Bst 7lb (Demith) 0

Mr Vallance's Disturbance, 4 yrs, 9st 41b, was scratched, his owner considering the weight too much. Fairy Queen took the lead, and held it to the finish. Caststeel came up once or twice, and challenged his leader on the post, making a close finish. Malton, half round, made a good show, but did not succeed in coming to the front. The race was fast, and done in good time. Rangiora District Handicap of 10 soys ; distance, 1£ miles. Mr G. Cone's b g Manuka, aged, lOst 61bs

(H. Moody) 1 Mr H. YaUance's b g Disturbance, 4 yrs, 9st

(Demith) 2 Mr S. Wilson's eh h Rocket, 4 yrs, Bst 61bs

(E. Jones) 0 Mr A. McQuillan's b m Rose Alba, aged, 9st4lb 0 Mr W. Dixon's Black Bess, 3 yrs, Bst ... 0

Murfit despatched the lot away to a good level start, and Manuka very soon came out of the cluster to make the running. Disturbance kept well up throughout, and Eocket pushed him for place. An exciting struggle at the finish took place between Bose Alba, and Black Bess, wliich created roars of laughter. The latter horse finished a dead head amid loud applause.

Handicap Flat Eace, 5 soys; distance, one mile. Mr M. Duncan's g f Caststeel, 3yrs. 7st 31b

(E. Parsons) 1 Mr G. Cone's b h Manuka, aged, lOst 101b

(H. Moody) 2 Mr H. Vallance's b g Disturbance, 4 yrs, Bst 101b (Demith) 0 Mr H. Murfit's eh g Malton, 3 yrs, 7st

(Murfit) 0 Mr J. Gilchrist's eh g Tim, aged, 9st 61b

(Owner) 0 Mr S. Wilson's h g Tommy Dodd, aged, 9st

(H. Murfit) 0 • Disturbance and Manuka were the favorites in this race; indeed it was expected the former would pull the race off, but at the half-mile Caststeel went up to Manuka and took the lead, which it held gamely till the finish, winning by about two lengths, with Disturbance a good third. Tommy Dodd bolted off the course, or he was considered a probable winner.

Htjeby Sktjeby. Distance one mile. Sweepstake of 10s each horse. Mr J. Lilly's Mosquito... 1 Four horses started, but Mosquito, which was considered to be the best, won easily, beating Disturbance, Tim, and Black Bess. This concluded a very pleasant meeting.