OAMARU RACES, 1866.

North Otago Times, Volume VI, Issue 106, 1 March 1866, Page 5 (Supplement)

OAMARU RACES, 1866.

Stewards : EDMUND GTBSON, Esq. F. D. RICH, Esq. W. H. OSTLER, Esq. HENRY DRIVER, Esq. M. R. MILLER, Esq. R. JULIUS, Esq. Judge : M. S. GLEESON, ESQ. Clerk of the Course : HERBERT A. JULIUS, Esq. # Starter : Mb ARTHUR DANSEY. This annual meeting came off on the Race Course about three miles to the north of Oamaru, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday last week, and proved by far the most successful ever held in this district. The weather in the first place was singularly favorable, and there was, in addition, a very good muster of superior horses. One drawback (the only one) was occasioned by the heavy rains of the previous Tuesday, and that was an accumulation of water in various parts of the course, which on the first day made the racing more to resemble steeplechasing than anything else. On Friday and Saturday the course had very much improved. It was fully expected up to the hour of the meeting that the principal stakes would go to the other side of the Waitaki, but subsequent events only showed how correct we were last week in stating it to be in every respect a " dark" one. Mr M'Pherson's Zohrab, a very fine-looking little animal, was not up to his work on the first two days, and failed in everything he attempted, despite the efforts of a capital rider, Mr Guinness. On Saturday he ran much better, and being in the van all the way, it appeared that he was determined not to be caught. Idle Boy was reported to be lame and was scratched in every event for which he was entered. Shepherdess, a smart filly, ran a good second for the Handicap, but she could make no show at long distances. A Canterbury horse, Dolphin, carried off the Hurdle Race stakes, and was much admired for his performances. Tommy also hailed from over the Waitaki, but being fresh from the stables little was expected of him. The horses belonging to this district certainly excelled themselves ; the chief of these, we may say, is School Boy, the winner of the " Cup." This gelding, a four-year-old, astonished even the cognoscenti, for having been but a short time in training, and entirely unknown to fame, he was not looked upon as having a chance to win. He is an animal with splendid action, and with more training should be a formidable opponent for any horse at two miles or two miles and a-half. The " Town Plate" distance (2^ miles) was nearly too much for him. We hope to hear of his further successes at Dunedin in a week or so, where, we understand, he is intended to appear. Maori Boy, a favorite district horse, ran pluckily for several " events," but could get nothing b'lt the Consolation Stakes. The winner of the Maiden Plate and Selling Stakes, Miss Foote, took not a few by surprise. A short time's training had done a great deal for her, because she was only known as a mare used for driving in cattle by her owner, who too, we believe, has been agreeably surprised at her performances. She beat another very fast district mare Antoinette, with whom it was thought she stood no chance of winning. Lady Bird, a Waikouaiti animal, made no show. She looks a very fine mare, but possesses no bottom. On the whole, the district must be congratulated on the possession of horses, to beat which those known to fame in other places must look to their laurels. The greater portion of the money ran for has been kept in the district, notwithstanding that the principal races were liberally opened to allcomers* and we believe that a considerable surplus will remain in hand as a nucleus for next year's fund. We may hear state that the greatest credit is due to the Stewards, Judge, Clerk of the Course, and Starter, for the very efficient and satisfactory manner in which they performed their respective duties. We must not omit to mention the names of Mr Taylor, the Hon. Secretary, and Mr R. M. Payne, Hon. Treasurer, to whom in a great measure, assisted by an active working Committee, the success of the Race Meeting is mainly attributable. The Races commenced shortly before one o'clock, with the

MAIDEN PLATE, Of £30 for all horses that have never iron public money. For 3 yrs old, 8sb 91bs; 4 yrs, 9st 131bs ; 5 yrs, lOst 71bs ; 6 yrs and aged, lOst lOlbs. Entrance, £2 2s. One mile and a-half. J. Thomas 1 br m Miss Foote, 3 yrs (Lynch) 1 N. M'Kay's b m Antoinette, aged (N. M'Kay) 2 G-, Newey's ch m Spider, aged 0 J. Seal's ch m Lady Bird, 5 yra ... ... ... 0 C. Harris' b m Gazelle, 6 yrs 0 W. K. M'Culloeh's br m 4 yra 0 This was a well-contested event. Lady Bird, the favorite, and Antoinette, after a good stavt was effected, went off with the lead at a rattling pace. Half way round, Lady Bird lost ground rapidly, and Miss Foote went up

to contest for the first place in the race with Antoinette. This she did with ease, and without the application of either whip or spur. A rapid run home brought her to the winning-post a couple of lengths in advance of Antoinette. The others were nowhere.

HURDLE RACE, £30. For 3 yrs old, 9sfc 91bs ; 4 yrs, lOsfc 131bs ; 5 yrts, list 7lbs; 6 yrs and aged, list lOlbs. Entrance, £2 10s. Two miles. Seven flights of hurdles. W. II. Harris' b g Dolphin, aged (Guinness) 1 W. K. M'Culloch's b g Tommy, aged (Parsons) 2 R. Clayton's b g Garibaldi, aged 0 11. M'Gregor's ch g Chester 0 A very good race. A capital start being effected, the quartette went off in beautiful order. Tommy had a slight advantage when clearing the first hurdle, but baulked at the second. Shortly afterwards for a considerable distance Tommy, Chester, and Garibaldi ran abreast, Guinness holding Dolphin. Tommy's chances were now considerably marred by a cur, whose owner, whoever he was, ought to have known better than permit it to endanger the lives of the lieges. Dolphin reserved his strength for some time longer, when he dashed up to the winning-post in beautiful form. His victory, under the circumstances, was easy. Tommy from a third place came forward and landed himself second.

HACK HURDLE RACE, Of L10. Entrance, LI each. Catch weights. Once round, over fourflights of hurdles. For all horses that have never won an advertised hurdle race or steeplechase. Geo. Murray's g g Billy (Gay) 1 McKay's ch g Marquis (McKay) 2 R. Miller's br g Maori ... ... ... ... 0 J. Beal's b g Dick 0 It. Campbell's br g Gamecock ... ... ... 0 R. Orr's b g Sam Slick 0 J. Parson's b g Rob 0 D. Brown's b g Thunder ... ... ... ... 0 Most of the horses took their leaps well in this race, with the exception of Sam Slick, who threw his rider at the first hurdle and could not regain his position. Billy led nearly all the way, and won as he liked; Marquis well up.

TOWN PLATE, £50. Maiden Plate weights. Entrance, £5. Three miles. W. T. Snell's b g School Boy, 4 yrs (Mactay) 1 A. Dansey's g g Maori Boy, 6 yrs (Lynch) 2 O. M'Pherson's b g Zohrab, 5 yrs (Guinness) 3 D. Kellas' g f Shepherdess, 4 yrs . . ... ... 0 W. H. Harris' ch g Idle Boy, 4 yrs scratched This was the most important event of the day. Idle Boy being 'scratched, 3 to 1 on Zohrab against the field was freely'offered ; Maori Boy and Shepherdess even for places. School Boy, an outsider, had few supporters, but as will be seen, he turned the tables effectually. At the start, he led at a killing pace, Maori Boy closely following, Shepherdess a good thiid, and Zohrab holding in a long distance behind. Once round was completed in this position, and School Boy, who had increased his lead considerably, still made the running. Half way round, Guinness called on Zohrab, and came into third place in the race ; Maori Boy was now pushed, and was gradually creeping forward, and rendering School Boy's chance less certain. School Boy, however, won by five or six lengths, but could scarcely be " rolled" past the winning post and must have succumbed to the second horse had the race been a hundred yards longer. Time. 6 min. 14 sec.

HACK RACE, For Saddle and Bridle, value £12 ; presented by Mr Joseph Waddell. Entrance, £1. For all horses that have not been entered for any race of the meeting. Catch freights. Mile heats. Anderson's ch g Bendigo ... ... (Lynch) 1 1 Campbell's g g Fossicker 2 2 J. Beal's g m Kitty 0 0 Swanstone's ch g Scamp ... ... ... 0 0 Riddell's b m Eosa Lee ... ... ... 0 0 Geo. Murray's b g Mount Cook ... ... 0 0 Guinness' b g Dodger ... ... ... 00 McPherson's ch g Jock ... ... ... 00 Waddell's b m Julia 0 0 McLaren's b m Bay Nanny ... ... 0 0 This was Betuligo's race from first to last ia both hents. Fossicker made a good show, but the rest were nowhere.

HANDICAP SWEEPSTAKES, Of LI, ■with L10 added. 1£ miles, open to all. G. Murray's g g Billy, 9st 61b (Gay) 1 C. Campbell's g g Fossicker, 9st ... ... ... 0 W. Wood's b g Thunder, 8st 101b 0 R,. Miller's br g Maori, 8st 61b 0 W. Wright's b g Sam Slick, 8st 61b 0 Or. Quarrie's ch m Firebrand, 8st 61b 0 J. Beal's ch m Lady Bird, lOst 0 This race was also Billy's, winning easily. Lady Bird, of whom more was expected than when running against better horses in the Maiden Plate, was again left " out of sight."