SPORTING NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXVII, Issue 234, 15 October 1891, Page 3

SPORTING NEWS.

« . M.R.C. SPRING MEETING. President : W. Pollard : Vice-President W. B. Girling ; Judge, Joseph Ward ■'. . Treasurer, R. McArtney; Stewards G. Cleghorn, W. E. P. Clouston, H Dodson, A. Rayner, J. H. Redwood, S Tapp.C.A.Watts; Handicappers : W Pollard, P. Rush ; Starter : R. McArt ney ; Clerk of Scales : L. Redwood Clerk of Course : F. Mills. There was not a large attendance at anj time yesterday on the Racecourse, and the showery weather experienced during th( afternoon rather tended to dampen whai excitement there was. The fair sex was not represented so strongly as usual, which rendered the meeting somewhat tamer than ordinary. Games there were none excepl skittlesj the oustomary shooting gallerj being absent. Mrs Tait was kept butsy al the two bars, and her luncheon was much appreciated. The Club officials all worked energetically, though some of them were evidently new to their duties. _ We cannot say that the alteration made m the programme of having no time stated for starting the different events is any improvement. It savors too much, as did the delays m getting the horses away yesterday, of the old game of keeping the machine open for the beneat of the Club.- The judge's duties yesterday were very light indeed, as most of the events were won by lengths. Mr McArtney, as starter, was not firm enough ; a few fines would have taught some of the jockeys that they were expected to obey orders. Mr L. Redwood made a courteous and attentive Clerk of the Scales, and Mr F. Mills an effective Clerk of the Course. The Secretary, Mr C. J. W. Griffiths, was übiquitous, and got through his work without any fuss. ;_That the meeting was not a greater success pecuniarily was net his fault. Mr Jones, /of Nelson, worked the machine, and gave every "satisfaction to his pationß. During the day £723 passed through the totalisator, . so that the Colony's revenue will benefit by the meeting to the extent of about £7 10s. \With respect to the racing very little need be added to the detailed remarks given below. The largest "divvy" during the day was that on the Consolation, and there were no finishes that could be called very exciting. The scratching of Clyde for the Hurdles disposed of any interest that might have been felt m this event, and greatly disappointed the people. The "big money" was the event m which most interest was centred, but the publio mado a determined f avaurite of Marechal Neii, and he repaid their confidence by winning easily. We should remark here that Mr Pilbrow, the owner, rode m mourning m xonsequence of the recent death of his father. Riverlands disappointed many supporters m this event by coming out with a stone over weight on his back, for what reason no one knew. Later m the day the "Consolation winner" as he had come to be known broke down Jn his last Consolation, and breaking his shoulder had to be Bhot. Perii a 3-year-o'd by Capsize— Fay, attracted some attention m this race, but the old black jacket and red cap of "the father of Ne#?ZealapcLjracing did not show to the fore this time.- —The only other event which calls fpr notice was the easy manner m which Mr Green's Pearl, a " dark: horse" romped ~ i'pjne m the Farmers' Race; reminding one Jof -the conp made "with Eisrnarok at a -former meeting, though m tbi3 case the public got wind of thegood thing there was m the race and made Pearl first favourite. The following are the results of the day's racing : — Handicap Hack Hubdlb Race, of 15 soys. — rDistance, one and a quarter miles and a distance; over 5 flights of Hurdles 3ft 6in high. 43 Mr T. B. Bax's.Bravo, by Sir Tatton, aged, lOat l'2lb (Demuth) . . 1 31 Mr J. E. Pilbrow's Flywheel, 6yrs lOst 71b, (Pilbrow) .. .. 2 14 Mr C. Moore's Miss Clyde, aged, lOst, (Gillott) .. .. ..3 These were the only starters, Flywheel led at the beginning, and Bravo at the second hurdle ran down his fence, but quickly recovered the lost distance. Miss Clyde rah off the course at the third jump, and was out of it afterwards. Bravo's jumping powers were considerably m advance of Flywheel's, and when called on :at the entrance of the straight he came j away willingly and won easily. Totalisator £88; dividend,, £1 16s. Time, lmin. 35aecs. Handicap Hurdle Race, of 25 soys. — Distance, one and three-quarter miles ; over 6 flights of Hurdles 3ft 6in high. Mr H. H. Dodson's Beggarman (Alexander) .. .. .. .. 1 A walk over, Clyde, Jack, and Flywheel having been scratched. Waibatj Plate Handicap, of 40 soys.—Distance, one and a half miles. 75 Mr J. E. Pilbrow's Marechal Neil — Dan O'Rourke-Diosma— syrs, 9st 61b (Pilbrow) .. .. ..1 45 Mr C. Moore's Clyde, aged, Bst 91b (Herd) .. .. ;. 2 37 Mr H. Redwood's Peri, 3yrs, 7st3lb (M'Nallie) .. .. ..3 After several false starts, for which Marechal Neil was mostly responsible, the field was got away on fairly even terms, Peri lying last and the favorite m the lead. Coming into the straight Oblivion got on even terms with the leader, and the whip was out on Peri. Rounding the course Marechal Neil was almost collared by Small Change, Clyde lying third, and very little alteration m positions took place till Peri ran up to third place, but she was soon done with, and the race lay between Marechal Neil and Clyde, the first mentioned winning easily m 2min. 48secs. Totalisator'£lß7; dividend, £2 4s. Handicap Hack Race, of 10 soys.—Distance, one raile. Minimum Weight 7st. 56 Mr A. McColl's Disraeli, (LeosAmy) 5 years, 9st 101 b, (Herd) . . 1 • 9 Mr J. E. Pilbrows Flywheel, 9st 101 b, (owner) .. .. .. 2 9 Mr T. B. Bax's Bravo, lOst, - (Demuth) . . 3 Bismarck 10s t, and Martinborough 9st 61b, were scratched, the other starters being Puni lOst, Beamenda lOst, Upset lOst, The Brat Bst 61b, lago 7st-101b, and Lone Jack 7st 71b. Disraeli gave a lot of trouble at starting, and eventually got away with' the lead, which he retained all through, having Bravo and Flywheel m close attendance, and winning by a length. Totalisator £144, dividend £2 ss. Flying Stakes Handicap, of 25 soys. —Distance, six furlongs. 15 Mr J. Cress' Victress, (Leos-Heather-bell); 6yrs, Bst 121 b, (Herd) . . 1 5 Mr W.H. Atwood's Small Change, 6st 71b .. 2 These were the only starters, end the race (?) was a procession. £20 m the totalisator, dividend £1 3s. Sporting Handicap, of 15 soys, — Distance, once round. 26 Mr J. E. Pilbrow's Marechal Neil • (Dan O'Rorke-Diosma) (Wilkinson) ' 5 years 9st 51b . . . . . . 1 24 Mr J. Cress' Victress, 6yrs (Herd) . . 2 Clyde 9st and Topsy Turvey 83t.51b were scratched. This was a pretty "race the horses being together the whole way round. Won by a neck. Totalisator £50. Dividend £1 3s. Fabmees* Race, of 5 soys. — Distance half a mile. For horses that have not won public money. 47. Mr J. B. Green's Pearl lOst (Herd) .. 1 12 Mr C. Satherley.s lago syrs (Dimuth) 2 38 Mr H. Alexander's Beamends (owner) 2 The Brat, Peggy, and The Diver were also starters. From the worst start of the day Pearl took the leading position, and showed considerable pace winning as she liked. Totalisator £123 ; dividend £2 6b, After the race Pearl was put up and boughi by Mr V. Olsen for £25. Consolation Handicap, of io soys. . Distance one mile. For all horses thai have started m previous races, but have - not won. • 40 Mr Alexander's Beamends (CapsizeSpritsail) 3 years (Barry) 7et 81b\. . 1 34 Mr Atwood's Small Change (Atwood) 7stlolb .. .. ..-5 Riverlands 9st was the only other starter, but he broke down hopelessly when about half the distance had been gone. A good race between the other two ensued, and Beamends won with a little to spare. Totalisator £111 ; dividend £2 9s. This brought the meeting to a clo3e ai about dusk.