CROMWELL SPRING MEETING.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 204, 7 October 1873, Page 6

CROMWELL SPRING MEETING.

+ The annual Spring Meeting, held under the auspices of the Cromwell Jockey Club, came off on Friday last, 3rd inst. The weather on the day before the meeting was cold and bleak, but Friday morning showed more hopeful sighs, and eventually it proved one of the finest days we have enjoyed this season. The number of people who assembled to witness the day’s sport could not have been far short of 400, of whom a considerable number came from Clyde. Amongst the latter, we could not help noticing that the Clyde Corporation mustered nearly in full strength. A large number of ladies from all parts of the district, tempted by the fine weather, doubtless, also graced the course by their presence, and greatly added to the enjoyability of the day’s proceedings. The stand was very well patronised during the races, but mostly by the “ lords of creation,” the ladies on the Cromwell Racecourse, as a rule, preferring to witness the various contests from their buggies, or from horseback. There was a little more excitement in the way of betting than took place on the Dunstan Racecourse, although the amount of the “ sweeps” got off the previous evening, and which to a great extent rules the betting, ■did not equal the amount got eff at Clyde, Rumour has it that the knowing ones suffered most severely in what few transactions there were, a result always hailed with satisfaction by the less favoured multitude. As will be seen by our report below, Mr Hazlett’s Brunette pulled off the principal event of the day, the difference in the weight on this occasion upon Wild Manx Boy apparently telling against him. Many were of opinion, however, that independently of the ■difference in weight, the Manx Boy was not in such good racing trim as he was both at Clyde and Alexandra. The Booth, under the management of Mr Heron, did a good business during the day, a result quite deserved by the excellent arrangements made. Altogether, we have to congratulate the Stewards on the great success which has attended this meeting, and we may only re-echo the general opinion of all those who take interest in racing matters, that it was owing in a great measure to their personal exertions. Great credit is also due to the Handicapper and Judge ; both had difficult parts to perform, and we think it will be acknowledged by all that they were well performed. The following is a detailed account of the day’s races ; Maiden Plate : 10 sovs. Distance, three-quar-ters of a mile. Weight for age. Mr T. Mackay’s br hj Maori Chief, 5 yrs, 9st 121b (J. Fraser) 1 Mr J. Dove’s g m Cripple, aged, 10st 11b ... (R. Swan) 2 Mr G. Cockburn’s c g Forester (late Croton), 6 yre, lOst lib (Robertson) 3 Mr R. Stewart’s b f Nevis, 8 yrs, 7st 111b... (G. Fraser) 0 Mr J. M‘Lean’s b g Taggart, 6 yrs, lOst lib (M'Lean) 0 Mr O’Neill’s b g Scud, 3 yrs, 7st 111b (Millar) 0 Forester (late Croton), against his usual custom, made a good start, and made the running pretty hot for the first half-mile, closely followed by Mr Dove’s Cripple. About half a mile from home, however, Maori Chief passed both of them with great ease, and came in first about five lengths. About the same place, Cripple took second position, and a smart race ensued between her and Forester for second hon ours. Taggart, Nevis, and Scud were nowhere. Spring Handicap : 25 sovs., with sweep of one sov., to go to second horse. Distance, one mile and a half. Mr Hazlett’s b m Brunette, aged, 9st (Waddell) 1 Mr Taggart’s b g Mr Wallace (late Boomerang), 4yrs, Bst (Robertson) 2 Mr Millar’s b g Fenian, aged, Bst 101b (Millar) 3 Mr Holt’s bm Taffrail, aged, Bst 81b (Moore) 0 Mr Rivers’ b g Wild Manx Boy, 4 yrs, 9st 71b (Holt) 0 Mr Mackay’s c in Sweetlips, aged, Bst 51b ... (J. Fraser) 0 When the flag fell, all the horses were pretty well in a line, although too close together if anything for a very good start ; and consequently they had gone quite 300 yards before each took fair racing room, Taffrail and Fenian in the front. When they had reached the three-quarter mile post, Fenian was leading, with Taffrail, Wild Manx Boy, and Brunette hard behind, and all within three lengths. Brunette and Wild Manx Boy then passed to the front, Brunette leading; and Mr Wallace gradually overhauled the Fenian. About the half-mile, Wild Manx Boy resigned the running to Mr Wallace, which had by this time passed the Fenian, and drew out of the race. A struggle then took place between Mr Wallace and Brunette, which resulted in the mare winning by about a length. Mr Wallace was carrying 81bs. overweight,—Time, 2min. 68sec. Selling Race : 15 sovb. Open to all horses. No weight under lOst, Three-quarter mile heats. Mr Mitchinson’s c (J. Swan) 1 - 1 Mr Mackay’a c g Sir Charles (Brosnan) 3-2 Mr Dove’s g m Cripple’.. ... (Waddell) 2 0Mr Mackay’s «jn Flora ... (Fraser) 0 20 Though iiot the most important race, this

day. In the first heat, Charley won after proved the moat interesting event of the an exciting run between him and Cripple, Sir Charles apparently, when it was found he could not win, being saved for the further heats. As Flora had not been pushed for the first heat, it was thought her chance for the second would be good, but the result proved otherwise. After one of the best straggles ever witnessed on the Cromwell Race-course, it proved a dead heat between Charley and Sir Charles, Flora only being a fair second. On running a third heat, Charley again proved victorious, Sir Charles being a good second. Charley was then put up at auction, and brought the sum of £lB 10s., being an addition to the Club funds of £3 10s. Mr B. R. Baird was the purchaser. Handicap Trotting Race : 5 sovs. Distance, two miles. No weight under lOst. Mr Ross’s Wildboy, 120 yds ... (R. Swan) 1 Mr Stewart’s Stumpy, 20 yds ... (J. Fraser) 2 Fleming’s Polly (scratch), Goodall’S Mary Ann (70 yds), M‘Morran’a Old Jock (140 yds), Werner’s Sly (200 yds), Mitchinson’s Nellie (180 yds), M‘Kay’s Sir Charles (170 yds), Smith’s Maori (250 yds), and Wilson’s Jane (300 yds) also ran. There being no Stewards going with them to watch the breaks, the utmost confusion took place as to which horses were trotting and which were galloping, exception being made in the cases of Wildboy, Stumpy, Mary Ann, and Polly. At the close of the race the owner of Stumpy entered a protest against Wildboy receiving the prize, on account of cantering past the post. On an investigation of the matter in the evening by the Stewards, Wildboy was declared the winner. Hack Race : 10 sovs. For all horses that have never won an advertised prize of over £ls. Distance, one mile. No weight under lOst. Mr Taggart’s bg Mr Wallace ... (Waddell) 1 Mr M‘Kay’s hr hj Maori Chief ... (Fraser) 2 Mr Smith’s b g Faugh-a-ballagh (Martin) 3 Richards’s Maintop and Welsh’s Toipmy also ran. It was getting very nearly dusk when this . race came off, so that the whole progress of it could not well he noticed. A splendid race took place between Mr Wallace and Maori Chief down the whole of the straight running, with the result above named. The owner of Faugh-a-ballagh entered a protest against either Mr Wallace or Maori Chief being declared the winner of the prize, on the ground that they were trained horses and could not be described as hacks. The Stewards decided that both came under the terms of the race. Saturday, October 4, 1873. The programme for the Spring Meeting having been so successfully carried out, the Stewards determined to offer a moderate sum for a second day’s programme. Between the races and the athletic sports which took place, a very fair day’s sport was furnished. The following races took place : Handicap Race of 10 sovs. Distance, one mile. Mr Hazlett’s Brunette, 9st 81b ... (Waddell) 1 Mr Mackay’s Maori Chief, Bst 51b (Fraser) 2 Mr Millar’s Fenian. Bst Blb (J. Swan) 3 After two or three false starts, Mr Dawkins got the lot away in splendid order. For a great part of the way, Maori Chief led by several lengths. At the turn coming into the straight running, however, Brunnette passed to the front, and maintained her position till the finish, at which all three were well up. Maori Chief carried 41b, and Fenian 51b overweight. Hack Race of 5 sovs. Distance, three-quarters of a mile. Mr Smith’s Faugh-a-ballagh ... (Robertson) 1 Mr Mackay’s Etty Morris ... (Brosnan) 3 Mr Millar’s Maggie (Millar) 2 Mr Cockburn’s Forester (Mackay) 0 All started in good order, except Forester, who could not resist the usual temptation to play up for awhile. Faugh-a-ballagh led the whole way, pushed hard by Etty Morris right to the post. Hospital Race : £lB 9s 6d. Mr Mackay’s Maori Chief (Fraser) 1 Mr Smith’s Faugh-a-ballagh (Swan) 0 Mr Millar’s Charley (Millar) 0 This turned out to be a very good race, though, as is well known, the owner only gets the credit of handing the prize to the Hospital Committee, This is the second time lately that Mr M‘Kay has entered his hox-ses for the purpose of making up a good race, and he well deserves the thanks of the Hospital Committee. If other owners of trained horses would follow the same example the Hospital Race would always be as interesting as any other. It ought also to be mentioned that £2 10s. of the amount was contributed by Mr Dagg, that being the amount he gaiued as prize for the wrestling match. The interval between the Hack Race and the Hospital Race was filled up by two or three foot races, and a wrestling match in Cumberland style. For the wrestling match there were three entries—Dagg, Smith, and Walker. Walker, however, declined the contest when he saw his formidable opponents, leaving Smith and Dagg to contest alone. The result was in iavour of Dagg, he securing four falls to Smith’s one. Mr Dagg afterwards presented the prize, as above-men-tioned (£2 10s.), to swell the amount of the Hospital Race. The three foot-races, which were handicaps, were all won by three of Mr Goodger’s boys.