OAMARU STEEPLECHASES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1304, 11 June 1880, Page 2

OAMARU STEEPLECHASES.

' « . 1,. The annual steeplechase meeting of the Oamaru Jockey Club was held to-day on the racecourse. The weather was fine, but cold, and the attendance moderate. The following are the results of the different events: —

Handicap Steeplechase, of 100 sovs; about

3 miles. Mr. W. Clifford's b g Clarence, 6 yrs, t , list.... ... ... . ... (T, tyford) 1 Mr, P. Butler's qh g Agent, aged, 13st 41b .„ ... ... (H. Lunn) 2 Mr. H. Schluter's b g Little John, 5 yrs, . lOst .' . .... . ... (J. Armstrong) f

Shilielagh (lOsfc), Banjo (iOst 71b), Grey Vlomus (12st 71b), and Loch Lomond list), also started. Shortly after one o'clock Mr. Shalders lent the seven horses away. Clarence ind Shillelagh rushed to the front, with Uittle John third, Qrey Loch Lomond, Banjo, and Agent bringing up the rear in the order named. All cleared the first fence but Banjo,.who came down. At the second jump the same order was maintained, Jtoch Lomond falling. Banjo having been, remounted, got over the.first fence, but fell again «t the seoond fence, i

and he and Loch Lomond were from that time out of the race. At the first gorsd hedge Shillelagh, Clarence, Little John* and Agent cleared, but Grey Momua baulked.- The second gortie ■ fence was cleared in the same order, but here again Momus, who had negotiated the first at the second attempt, baulked, and his chance of winning thus extinguished. Shillelagh led up tho straight the first time, with Clavetico in close attendance, the two horses fencing splendidly, Little John being about 20 lengths behind them, and The Agent 40 lengths in the rear of Little John. At the final water jump Shillelagh led over, Clarence a length behind, but at the second brook Shillelagh baulked and threw his rider, thus losingall chance of winning. Clarence cleared it in fine style, as also did Little John and Agent, but there was a distance of about 200 yards between the three horses. From thence Clarence took all his fences in fine stylo, and cantered in a winner. At the secoud gorse fence from home Agent passed Little John but fell at the first fence on entering the straight and got away, from his rider. At the last gorse fence the rider of Little John broke a stirrup leather and fell oft'. Agent having been caught, Lunn remounted, and Armstrong having again mounted Little John, the two raced upthe straight, 'Agent securing second money by a length. None of the other horses completed the course. Maiden Steeplechase, of 50 sovs; about 2J miles ; weight for age. Mr. H. D. Bradley's b m Miss Hungerford, aged, list 121b ... (Owner) 1 Mr. S. G-. Osborne's b g Robin Hood, aged, 12st 131b ... (S. Osborne) 2 Mr. T. M'Kay's b g Leap Year, aged, 12st 131b ... ... ... (Owner) 3

Bellman (5 yrs), Isaac (aged), Uticie Tom (5 yrs), Stella (aged), and Nigel (5 yrs) also started. Betting—6 to 4 against Robin Hood, 3 to 5 to 1 the others.

At 1.15 p.m. Mr. Shalders despatched the seven horses to a very good start. At the first : fence Bellman fell, and got away from his rider, and Uncle Tom ran off. the course. At the second fehco Nigel refused, and although he was ultimately persuaded to negotiate the obstacle it was too late to have any chance of winning. Up the straight, and until the second water jump had been negotiated, Miss Hungerford, RQbin Hood, Lbap Year, and Isaac were running in a cluster, but at the first fence after the water jump Leap Year and Isaac came down together. Miss Hungerford then got a long lead, and although Robin Hood got. to within four lengths of her in the straight Bho ultimately won by about five lengths. Leap Year was remounted and cantered in third.

Selling Steeplechase, of 25 sovs; about 2 miles; no weight under lOst. Mr. T. M'Kay's b g Leap Year,, aged (J.Cotton) 1 Mr. P. Butler's ch m Stella, aged (P. M'Coy) 2 Mr. S. G. Osborne's b g Johnny, aged (S. Osborne) 3 Te Kooti, Theodore, Natimai, Isaao, Unles Tom, and Lottery also started. Betting—2 to 1 against Stella, Leap Year, and Isaac; 3t06 to 1 the others. The nine horses were despatched to a good start. Stella immediately rushed to the front and led, followed closely by Lea,p Year and Johnny, the others tailing off with Naumai and old Lottery last. Stella Johnny, and Leap Year were the first three to get over the two water jumps, and kept together till the first gorse fence. Here Leap Year fell behind, and Johnny and Stella raced together until the last fence, when Johnny baulked and ran Stella off. Leap Year, who till then was beaten, here came up, jumped the fence, and cantered quietly in, Stella getting over the fence and obtaining second place ; Johnny a bad third.

Consolation of 30 sovs. about 2 miles. Mr. D. Schluter's b. g. Little John, list., (J. Armstrong), 1 Mr. Culling's b. g. Numai, 10st., (A. M'Kay) 2

Loch Lomond (12st 71bs), Robin Hood (lOst 91b), and Shillelagh (list 41bs), also started.

Betting, even money on Shillelagh, and 2 to 1 against the others. At 4.15 the five horses were started. Loch Lomond refused at the first fence, but all the others got safely over. The first water jump was cleared by Shillelagh in fine style, but Robin Hood fell and rolled in it. Little John and Naumal cleared it in the order named, At the second water jump Shillelagh oame to grief, Little John and Naumai getting safely over. From thence those two horses took all their fenoes, a few lengths separating them. Mr. Sohluter's horse finally won easily by about four lengths. No third horse was plaoed.