GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 412, 23 August 1877, Page 3

GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASES.

The above steeplechases came off at Timaru yesterday, and were highly successful. We glean the following particulars of the different events from this morning's Timaru Herald: — New Zealand Grand National Handicap, of 100 sovs., added to a sweepstake of y sovs. each for starters. Distance, about.

4 miles. Mr G. P. Williams'gr g Fakir, syrs, 10s fc 51b (S. Osborne) 1 MrS. Nutt'schg Shillelagh, aged, 10st 51b (F. ttieehan) 2 Mr W. Swanson's bg Tommy Dodd, aged, list 101b " (M-Gregor) 3 Ivanhoe, Banjo, Lonehand, Will-if-I-Can, Brunette, Phantom, Frost-Fish, Te

Kooti, and Dandy also started. The flag fell to a f:dse start, but after returning, Ivanhoe and Tommy Dodd got away with the lead, the latter, if anything, having the advantage. At the second fence Tommy led by about half a length, but on passing the stand Ivanhoe was abreast of him. Brunette then began to show tip, but before the water jump was reached she had secured second place. Going up the rise Banjo showed siirns of overhauling the first and second horses, but he had to give way to Fakir, who went two to the others' one. After passing the first fence on the rise, Ivanhoe's rider mistook the flag, and went on the wrong side. He was followed by the next horses, and the result was a double. On getting to the fair running again Banjo wns seen shooting to the front, with Fakir close on his quarters, and Shillelagh and Jvinhoe almost neck by neck. Down on* L >H(ivr and up a slight rise the}' went in t' is order. Then came another decline, which gave. Fakir the lead ; but going up the succeeding hill, Ivanhoe, Shillelagh, Brunette and Tommy Dodd merged into a body, and for some time it was hard to tell who was leading. In front of the stand, however, Fakir was observed to be leading, with Brunette a good second, and Banjo third. These positions were kept up till the water jump was reached, when Shillelagh came up with a rush and took second place. On reaching the rise, Tommy Dodd's rider urged him into third place, and tried hard to overhaul Shillelagh, but without success. The race resulted in Fakir passing the judge's stand with two lengths to spare. Maiden Plate, of 50 sovs., added to a sweepstake of 3 sovs. each, to be paid at the po>t. Nominations, of 1 sov ,to go to the fund. Weight for age. Distance, 2 miles. Mr W. Smith's b g Lonehand, aged. 12st (F. Hedge) 1 Mr Vmintr's ch g Will-if-I-Can, acred, ]2st3lb (Joyce) 2 Mr King's br g Halifax, aged, 12st 31b (G. Kichols) 3 Noble, Tim Whiffler, Shillelagh, Turk, and Nellie also started.

A good start was made, hut Tim "Whiffkr, who got a slight advantage, baulked at the second fence, giving Turk the lead. At the water jump, Will-if-[-Can had managed to get to the front, but he did not maintain his position long, as Lonehand came up to him hand over hand. At the next fence "Will-if-I-Can baulked, a trick lie is very fond of, and gave Lonehand first place. On rising the next hill the field was seen spread out considerably, and the last gorse fence was taken in the following order :—Lonehand first, Will-if-I-Can second, Halifax third, Turk fourth, and Noble fifth. At the final jump Turk came to grief, giving Noble fourth place, the other horses catching the judge's eye in the order in which they passed the previous fence. Hunt Club Ccp, of 75 sovs., added to a sweeps' ake of 3 sovs. for starter?, to be paid at the post. Weight for age ; distance, 3 miles. Gentlemen riders, professionals 71b extra. Mr W. Smith's b g Lonehand, aged, 12st 31b (F. Hedge) 1 Mr J. Andrew's ch g Banjo, aged, list 31b (McKay) 2 Mr Jame3 Yining's ch g Will-if-I-Cau, aged, I2st 31b (Joyce) 3 Te Kooti, Faugh-a-Ballagh, Grey Momus, Ivanhoe, and Moose also started. The flag fell to a bad start. Lonehand rushed to the front at once, and kept his lead till the finish, being splendidly ridden by F. Hedge. On passing the stand for the first time he led by two lengths, Will-If-I-Can being a good second, and Banjo third. At the next fence Grey Momus, who was running forward, fell and threw his rider. The other horses kept their positions till the winning post was reached. Consolation Handicap, of 40 sovs., added to a sweepstake of 3 sovs. each. Nomination of 1 sov. to go to the fund. Diss* fcvnc*? 2 miles ll *"S. Nutt's ch g Shillelagh, list 111b j (Slieenan) 1 ilr'Barton's b g Ivanhoe, aged, 12st 21b (F. Hedge) 2 Mr W. Swanson's b g Tommy Dodd, 12st 71b (.McGregor) 3

Brunette, Phantom, Tim "Whiffler, Banjo, and Halifax also started. The field got away well together, but

Ivanhoe and Banjo soon shoved ii; rYotit. The two raced neck-and-neek ncross several fences, but at the vat;.r jump Banjo succeeded in obtaining :t lead. He kept it till the rise of the second hill from the turn, and then gave way first to Shillelagh and next i<< Ivrnihoe. Tommy Dodd also shoved up weii at the last while Phantom, after a desperate struggle, came to grief at the last hurdle. thiMwing his rider (Watty) heavily to the ground. The race, which was one of the best of the day, concluded in the order above named.