FOR OLD TIMES’ SAKE.

Grey River Argus, 25 July 1922, Page 7

FOR OLD TIMES’ SAKE.

GREYMOUTH’S FIRST RACES. (By “Old Boy.”) At the first race meeting at Omoto, the Judge was Mr W. H. Revell, the Magistrate, and the starter was Mr I rank Fisher, a local auctioneer. There Yore, of course, no fences or barriers to keep spectators from the racing track. This -was done by the police, Mounted Sergeant Moeller, being especially in evidence. This smart well built young Hollander with blonde moustache and pleasant face, was a well-known figure for several years afterwards at the various race meetings. Bis horse was a magnificent black anim; 1, which was not duly always splendidly groomed and equipped but was trained like a circus animal. Everybody knew Moeller’s “Prince” prancing I down the lines of spectators, with his 1 rider like a centaur, the intelligent | animal straightened the alignment magically by pushing back obtruders with its rump! Never hurting anyone in the slightest, it caused many a laugh by the way it would scatter a group of obstinate men, many of whom would be tumbling like ninepins. Sergeant Moeller was himself a man of fine character, who was later stationed at Hokitika., and he fully merited the esteem in which he was held. A full description of the racing might not be sufiiciently interesting to my readers to justify- its inclusion here, but it may be stated that the chestnut mare “Mocking Bird,” owned by .Mr M. J. Paul, a local merchant (whose premises were on the Bank of New Zealand corner) annexed the Trial Stakes of 50 sovs., the Town Plate of 50 sovs., and the Local. Gift of 40 sovs.. on tho first two days. Tho chief event of the meeting took place on the third day. Weights were not declared till the evening before, and th-e handicappers had no previous performances to guide them. The following is a verbatim report of the most important event, taken from the “Grey River Argus” of March 21st 1867:— The Greymouth Handicap was looked forward to with especial curiosity, ft was hoped and believed prior to the declaration of the weights, that Mocking Bird must of necessity win the £lOO stakes; but the publication of th-e handicap considerably disappointed Mocking Bird’s supporters, who freely expressed their opinion that she was overweighted. It is not our place to express any opinion on the judgment of the stewards but we may suggest that the result of the races justifies their calculations—in fact the horses were placed as follows: — The Greymouth Handicap, of 100 sovs.; (open to all horses); two miles and a quarter. — Air Geo. Osborne’s g. g. Don Pedro 9st 81b 1. Air Garforth’s br. g. Kohler 9.10 2 Air Al. J. Paul’s c.m. blocking Bird lOst 71b 3. The other horses that ran were: Air J. Knox’s Candidate, Air Kennedy’s Bella Donna, and Air Harrison’s Types. Selim, Hutter, Henwick Lad, and Waimea were scratched. This race was really a good one, and was fairly contested. Candidate took the lead, followed by Bella Donna, blocking; Bird being close, on her quarter. Kohler took third place after a mile and a half, and challenged Mocking Bird, but fell back. The Don came up with a rush, fought his way through the crowd and assumed a commanding lead which was maintained to the finish. At th-e turn home Alocking Bird was second, but no sooner had Kohler entered the, straight than bus rider made a spurt, passed the mare and ran very close on the gray at the winning post. ’ ’ A rather curious coincidence connecting our first race meeting with a celebrated colonial scientist was that when Blink Bonny fell at one of tho hurdles, and threw her rider. The first man to run to th-e assistance of the jockey was Dr. Hector, then visiting the Coast on his famous geological and scientific expedition.