CROMWELL SPRING RACE MEETING.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VI, Issue 308, 6 October 1875, Page 6

CROMWELL SPRING RACE MEETING.

The Spring race meetings seem fated to be unusually successful. At Alexandra and Clyde they were favored with perfect Queen’s weather ; while the racing was ■excellent, with large fields of horses and well contested events. Cromwell has been in no way behind ; and there is every probability that the Wanaka and Cardrona meetings will be equally fortunate. The meeting this year at Cromwell was a remarkably satisfactory one. Except for a short time towards the close of the second day, when the wind became very cold, everything was most enjoyable/a«d those present—and the attendance was above the average—seemed highly pleased with their outing. Great interest was taken ih the races, and a good deal of money was invested. The stewards may be congratulated on the manner in which the meeting went off, and Mr Preshaw, the president of the Club, deserves an extra word of •praise for his exertions. He worked hard , and indefatigably throughout, in what is often a thankless position. Mr Jolly took his customary office of judge, and Mr Pierce that of clerk of the course; but Mr Dawkins being unwell, Mr Starkey acted as starter. Mr Marsh, of the Bridge Hotel, was the possessor of all the privileges, and apparently 'dropped'in for a good thing. There were no “ sinful games” of any description; not even the remotest attempt at “IJ and 0.” In the wayof amusement, there were the performances of the “ little German band,” who at times instituted quite a small dancing saloon in one corner of the booth. Altogether the meeting was perhaps as enjoyable and successful as any Spring one hitherto 'held under the auspices of the Club. Below we summarise the racing ; First Day: Friday, October 1.

The first race was the Maiden Plate, of 10 sovs. Distance, one mile. Weight for age. Mr James Smith’s g g Haricot, 5 yrs, 9st 51b Mr James Duhig’s br g Bonghleen Dhoun, 3

yrs, 7st 2 Mr D. M‘Gregor’s g g Doctor, aged, 9at 61b 3 For this event a very good field of nine •came to the post, the others being Echo, Polly, Nandu, Spinaway, Kate, and Snip. 'The race was expected to lie between Echo and Doctor, and Haricot was reckoned altogether an outsider. The first start was a false one, but none of the riders except the boy on Boughleen Dhoun (“The Brown Boy”) knew of it, and urged their horses to the •winning-post accordingly. Haricot won this false race by about three lengths, with Doctor second and Echo third. The second time •only five horses started, and Haricot, —a strong, racing-looking Morris Dancer, —again •came to the front, Boughleen Dhoun pushing him close at the end. The latter has only been handled five weeks, and never galloped beside a mate before, so that his performance is a very good one. Hack Race, of 10 sovs. Three-quarter mile heats. No weight under lOst. , Mr Robert Kidd’s Clyde ... (Fraser) 1 Mountain Hare and three others also ran, '■‘but Clyde’s excellent condition pulled him through easily.

'Cromwell Handicap, of 15 sovs. One mile and a quarter, Mr Waddell's b g Young Leamington, aged. 9st (Owner) 1 TWr Collins 1 bm Frances, Syra,7st 81b (Low) 2 Mr M‘Gregor’s bhj Ivanhoe, aged, 9st 51b 3 Mr Laing’sbm Flora, 6yrs, Bst 111b ... 0 Frances for this event was greatly fancied, but there was not much speculation on the race. Ivanhoe and Flora made the running, but Waddell had his horse well In hand, and although Frances came with a rush, she could not overhaul Leamington, who won by a length and a half.

Hack Selling Race, of 10 sovs. One m’le. No weight under lOst. Winner to be sold for £2O ; surplus to go to race fund, Mr Kidd’s Clyde (Fraser) 1

Clyde had two opponents, but he was not pushed. He was sold for £2l, to Mr Thoa. Parsons.

Handicap Trotting Race, of 6 sovs. Two miles. No weight under list. Mr M‘Donald’s Lady Chips, 100 yds Mr Thos. Wood’s Nelly, 100 yds 1

Three or four others contested, Mr Scott’s Mary Ann being at scratch. Lady Chips passed the post first, but her rider was short of weight, and the prize fell to Nelly.

Second Day : Saturday. Hack Selling Race, of 10 sovs. Three-quarl mile heats. No weight under 9st. Wim to be sold for £ls; surplus to go to race fu Mr D. M ‘Gregor’s Clyde (Fraser) 1 Mr Collins’Frances ... (Low) 2 Clyde’s star was once more in the o n " i dant, although Frances, in the eecond ;at particularly, raced him hard. The t OOI, was bought in for £3O, so that his. ner really paid £5 to the Club for the p’ le ß e of winning the race. Spring Handicap, of 20 sovs. Distr* one mile and a half. Mr M‘Gregor’s b hj Ivanhoa, j Mr Waddell’s b g Young Leamingtr l^ 9st 21b ' s i Mr Thing’s b m Dunglven Lass, 101b ", , This was the most exciting™ 01 meeting, and a deal of money on it, tho r„ce resolving itself- 0 » between Leamington and IvaC „ Loss being but little fancied*,™ ft. .tort tho mare gave this time she ran in winker" F

Mr Starkey got them away pretty well together. Ivanhoe went off with a strong lead, his staying powers being apparently relied on, and half way round he was fully four lengths ahead. Then Leamington began to leave his companion, the Lake, and crept up alongside Xvanhoe pretty sihartly, finally indeed, just before the turn into the straight, giving him the go-by. But he could not hold this advantage, and IvanhOe, keeping up his speed, slowly but surely cut him down, once more regaining the lead. Up the straight a grand race ensued. Waddell did his utmost, and he is as good a jockey almost as there is in the Colony, and Richardson also rode his “level best.” The excitement was very great. Both horses strained every nerve, but Ivanhoe proved a “ sticker,” and Lev mington’s nose just touched the little horses girth at the finish. The Lass was about a dozen lengths behind. Consolation Handicap, of 5 sovs. Distmce, three-quarters of a mile. Mr R. Stewart’s Waikaia, 7st 31b (Bushell) 1 Mr Loughnan’s Frances, Bst ./. 2 Flora was the favorite for this, but she was last when it was all over. Waikaia wot a very fast race by three lengths, coming il with the saddle beneath him, and the horrid ing him “ bareback” as naturally am gamely as if a saddle were a luxury. N(t only did Waikaia win thus adversely, but te actually carried 211bs overweight. For must surely have lent him wings. Hospital Race, of £l6 16s, collected on he ground. Three-quarters of a mile. Mr Pierce’s Moonlight ...(Clare) 1 Mr Stewart’s Spinaway Js