SPORTING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5803, 24 September 1880, Page 3

SPORTING.

GERA.LDINE RACES.

(Pee Pbess Association Special Wise.)

Timaeo, September 23rd. The attendance at the Geraldine races was • irery fair, and the weather could not have been tetter. The racing on the whole was good. The following is a detailed account: — MAIDEN PLATE, *■ Of 30 BOvs. for all horses that have never won 10 soys of public money. Weight for age. Distance, one and a-half mile. '' -Mr J H Lunn's Clarence, 6 yrs, 9st 61b (B Derritt) 1 Mr M Hobbs' Swindler, 0 yrs, 9st 61b (Demuth) 2 -Mr W C Webb's Knottingly colt, 3 yrs, 7st 51b (H Harris) 3 JMr J Mundell's Three-Sheets-in-the-Wind, aged, 9st _ 61b .. ... . - (W Bradmore) 0 : 'i There were six entries for the opening race, "but four only came to the post, Mr J. Kennedy's Lubra and Mr F. Barrett's Levant being scratched. In hie preliminary canter, showed that he had something of a »will of his own, and on going up to the flaghe •■■ -again asserted his own opinion by dashing - away and bnltirig. After a delay of five >■ minutes a second attempt was made, and Mr Stansell got them away at 1.20 ""very fairly, Clarence being a trifle behind. The tipsy one shot to the front, Swindler - ieeping him cloee company, while the colt had taken last place from Clarence. On passing ■the pest the first time/Swindler led elightly, -with Three Sb6e.'s f-ecocd; but immediately afterwards Clarence took the lead, and the local Jiorse fell hopelessly back. Coming up to the again, Swindler put on a spurt *nd headed Clarence,! the colt keeping well np, but hard ridden. Turning into the straight in the aiame order, the race seemed almost a certainty lor Swindler, but though Demuth pushed him hard, Clarence came up and passed him quietly, .Just clearing him on the post. The Knottingly colt was a bad third, and Three Sheets-in-the--wind a worse fourth. Time, 2 mm. 59 sec.

HANDICAP HURDLE RACE, Of 70 soys, for all horses. Distance, about two miles. Over eight nights of hurdles.

Sir O H Thomson's Love Hand, aged, 12st 41b (F Hedge) 1 /Mr C W Bourne's Milo, aged, lOst 101b (C Hobbs) 2 - Mr H Scbluter's Little John, 6 yrs, 9st 121b (Armstrong) 3 .Mr J H Lunn's Robin Hood, aged, 9st 71b (Osborne) 0 .Mt M Hobbs' Swindler, 6 yrs, 9st 51b (Demuth) 0 Betting: Even on Lone Hand, 3 to 1 agst " Milo and Robin Hood, 4 to 1 Little John, 5 to T l Swindler. At the totalisa.tor L2l was invested, Lll •-3)eing on the winner. The start took placo a rev yard ß from tne -atacd. Swindler cut away first, and led the Tray to and over the first hurdle, which all -cleared in excsltent style. The race is a difficult -one to describe in detail, all the horses keeping •well together most of the way, and changes of among them being very frequent. At ■-first Swiadler obtained a good lead, but he -dropped back into the crowd again. Oa passIng the stand in the first round Swindler still had a flight lead, but was headed on the next iiurdle by Robin Hood and the grey, and never recovered the position. The field passed down -the far eide of the course and round the bottom »11 close together, frequently changiag places and all jumping in first rate style, and the -excitement was intense. Milo and Lone Hand seemed to be most looked to. Milo took the last tmrdie first, and the grey and Little John leaped it tegbiber. Lone Hand then came ahead and won a magnificent r*ce by almceta length, the last horse being no great distance in the rear. Timn, 4 noin, 38 sec.

PUBLICANS' HANDICAP, Of 70 soys.; for all horses. Distance, one mile and a-quarter. -Mt W. C. Webb's Virginia Water, 3 yrs, 7st 51b (Harris) 1 Mr P. Butler's Luna, 6 yrs, Bst 4lb (Owner) 2 .Jlr H. Goodman's Tera, i yrs, Bst 41b .. .. i Barrett's Levant, 7st,kJ. Shaw's Adamanti -Set 121b, and H. P. Lance's Marie Antoinette, Sit, also ran. Mr R. J. Mason's Pinfire was * C Betting : 2to 1 apst Luna, 3 to 1 agst Tera, -S to lagst Virginia Water Mid Adamant. There -were 40 LI tickets taken at the tntaksator, only of them being on recount of Luna. Attera little bother from Adamant and Virginia Water, who fought Bby cf the fls>g, a fair start was obtained. The stand was passed a quarter of a mile after the start in this order:—Luna, "Virginia Water, Adamant, Levant, Tera, »nd Marie Antoinette. On the far eide of the •course Teia took third place, the two leaders ■retaining their respective places. Going round "the bottom turn Virginia Water closed on Tliuna, and the issue of the race became very doubtful, the two racing neck and neck. JEnteriDg the straight Luna began to cave in, -and hard ridivg Jailed to keep her on terms with the filly,who came in, hands down, an easy •winner. Time, 2 ruin. 16 sec. SELLING RACE, Of 20 soys for all horses. Weight for age. Winner to be sold for £25 ; any surplus to go the funds. 71b allowed for every £5 reduction. Distance, one mile. ■Mr q n-hnvnp's Bellman, 5 yrs, 9st 41b (G Osborne) 1 JUr It H Pearpoint's Maid-of-all-Work, 5 yrs (£10), 7stßlb .. •• , •• ' This raco was uninteresting, tne three horses comiDg in in the order named, with J&om 15 to 20 lengths separating each.

SELLING HACK RACE, Of 10 BOVB. Mr Harold's Barmaid .. ..1 Mr Pearpoint'a Kitten and Mr Saunders' Linda and Jacob also started.