CHRISTCHURCH RACES.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XI, Issue 575, 16 November 1880, Page 7

CHRISTCHURCH RACES.

The C. J. C. Spring Meeting of 1880 was opened under auspicious circumstances on 9th inst. The weather proved to be delightful. The horses for the first race were at the poet within five minutes of the appointed time. The Free Handicap, a sweepstakes of 3 sovs each, with 100 sovs added ; two miles ; second horse to save his stake. Mr Walter’s b c Billingsgate, 4 yrs (Nolan) 1 Mr H. Goodman’s ch hj York, 5 yrs (Rudings) 2 Hon. W. Robinson’s ch hj Natator, 5 yrs (Derritt) 3 Time, Imin, 45£ sec. Betting: 2 to I against Natator ; 4 to 1 any other, Derby Stakes, a sweepstake of 20 sovs each, with 250 added ; for 3-j ear-olds; colts Bst 101b, fillies Bst 51b; second horse to save his stake. Hon, R, Campbell’s b c Sir Modred (Harris) 1 Mr W. C. Webb’s b f Virginia Water (Derritt) 2 Mr W. C. Moorhouse’s ch c Badsworth ,• (Rudings) 3 The Governor, Lure and Nautilus also ran. All the half dozen entries faced the starter, and Lure, who caused a lot of trouble, was at last coaxed up to her horses. A fter a few strides, Sir Modred, Badsworth, and Lure came away in the order named, The Governor lying last. On the far side Lure assumed a strong lead, with Badsworth a length and a-half behind ; Sir Modred third, and Governor still last. At the three-quarter distance Badsworth went to the front, Lure being second, and Sir Modred and Viginia Water running neck and neck in third place, Nautilus last. Entering the straight Badsworth, Lure, and Sir Modred ran in the order named, but the blue and silver was now coming up fast, and speedily turned the tables. Well and easily ridden, Sir Modred was landed by a length; Badsworth being a bad third. Time, 2rain 43secs. O.J.C. Handicap, a sweepstake of 20 sovs each, with 500 added } second horse to receive 60 sovs from the stakes ; the third horse to save bis stake. Two miles. Mr G. Fraser’s ch hj Le Loup, 6 yrs (Wattie) 1 Mr W. Walter’s b c Piscatorious, 4 yrs (P. Nolan) 2 Hon. W. Robinson’s hr hj Foul Play, 6 yrs (R. Derritt) 3 Betting: 5 to 1 on the field. The 10 entries all faced the starter, and the race proved to be a grand one. Foul Play took the lead when the flag fell, Mr Fraser’s two lying last. Passing the stand the order of the leaders was Sir George, Luna, Betrayer, with Kosciusko last. On the far side of the course Betrayer was going

up. The order now was Luna, Sir George, Betrayer, with a length between each, and it was ■.anybody's race. At the three-quarter mile Luna still )ed, but at the bottom corner the horses were all in a cluster. Betrayer then c?me away, and with PiscatorioUs made the running. Everybody was looking for the winner in one of these two, when Le Loup, who had been in waiting, waa.clcvorly pushed to the front amidst tremendous cheers. Time 3mins. SO^secs. Welcome Stakes, a sweepstake of 16 sovs each, with 200 sovs added. Two year old colts and geldings, Bst 51b; fillies, Bst. Second horse to save his stake. Four furlongs. La Mode ... ... ... f Hinemoa ... ... ... 2 Blue Jacket 3 Seven ran. A bad start was effected, Amulet being left at the post, The rest ran well together till near home, when La Mode and Blue Jacket’were left with the lead. Hinemoa was coming up fast, but La Mode managed to get her nose first past the post, with the filly second, and Blue Jacket a good third. Slices, Canterbury Cup, a sweep of 20 sovs each, with 500 sovs added. Second horse to receive 50 sovs, and third horse to save his stakes. Weight for age. Two miles and a quarter. Mr G. Fraser’s eh hj Le Loup, 6 yrs, 9st 61b, by Traducer—Mermaid ... (Wattie) 1 Hon. W. Robinson’s br hj Foul Play, 6 yrs, 9st 61b ... (Dewitt) 2 Mr fl. Redwood's oh c Norseman, 4 yrs (Thompson) 3 Mr W. C, Webb's b f Virginia Water, 3 yrs, 7st 11b ... o Mr G. Fraser’s b f Lure, 3 yrs, 7st 11b ... 0 Hon. R. Campbell’s br c Sir Modred, 3 yrs, 7st 61b ... ... o Mr Campbell got the lot off very quickly after coming to the post, Virginia Water, Foul Play and Le Loup being quickest away. Virginia Water cut out the running, with Lure second, Le Loup third, Sir Modred fourth, Foul Play fifth, and Norseman last. In this order they ran until passing the stand, where Virginia Water still led, with Le Loup close up, Foul Play third, Sir Modred fourth, Lure fifth, and Norseman in the rear. This order was maintained until the back of the course, where Le Loup began to go up to Virginia Water, who still lead, taking first place, Virginia Water dropping back seeond, with Foul Play third, Sir Modred fourth, Norseman fifth, and Lure sixth. Coming into the straight Foul Play improved his position, making his effort at the turn. Mr Fraser’s handsome horse, however, was not to be denied, and came down the straight hands down, winner of the Canterbury Cup of 1880 easily by three lengths, Foul Play second. Virginia Water ran up third to the post, but just then Norseman came with a rush and appropriated the barren honor. Lure was fifth, and Sir Modred last. Time 4min, 9sec.