D.J.O. EXHIBITION RACE MEETING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8686, 25 December 1889, Page 5 (Supplement)

D.J.O. EXHIBITION RACE MEETING.

The bold move on the part of tha Dunedin Jockey Club in offering richer prizes than have ever been given at a, race meeting in this colony before on the occasion of the Exhibition Race meeting has been attended with success. The attendance on the Cap day was the largest ever seen on Fotbury Park, and, according to competent judgea, the largest which has attended any meeting in the coiony. His Excellency the Governor and the Countess of Onslow and suite were present on all three days. The Premier (Sir Harry Atkinson), and the Hons. B. Mitchelson, T. Fergus, and Captain Russell also attended. The display made by the ladies who graced the lawn in the way of tasteful' and pretty dresses has never been equalled in this colony, and Australian visitors freely admitted that it compared favourably with Flemington. Proceedings commenced on the 27th with the Spring Hurdles, won by Mr Kildare's Secretary, from a field of seven. The Maiden Plate fell to Mr Dooley's Miss George, beating 10 other starters. Then cams the rich prize of the meeting, the details of which we give in full. The figures indicating the investments on the totalisator :—

NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION OUP, Handicap of 1500sovs, with a sweepstakes oflOaovs each; second hone SOOsovr, and third 200.iovs from the stakes. One mile and three-quarters. I. 0.

668 256—Mr J Stephenson't b h Occident, by

Lapidiib—The West, 4yrs. 7.9

111 68—Hon O M'Lean's br h Sfc Jameij by L<s linui—Pungawerere, 4vrs, 6.13

269 137—Mr E Ray's b h Wakatipu", by"The * Dummer—Oorlsando, 6yr5,6.8

133 56-MrJ Kennedy', bo Eeolus^, by^lniel 3 O'Hourke—Voltarina, 4yis, 8.6

779 460-Mr Gt G Stead's g c Scots GreyTbv ° Musket—Maid o£ Athol, 3yrs. 8.4 139 75-Mr P W Hungerford'a blk h^rfSsl? ° Lion, by Leolinus—Spritsail, aged, 7.8 278 146-Messrs Clifford and Hunter's °blk f

Cynisca, by Apremont — Nautilus, 3yr», 7.7 ... ... (Brown) 0 86 33—Mr H Redwood's oh m Masthead, by Ramarama— Spritsail, iyrs, 73

(Birkett) 0 72 42-Mr J Paul's b g Poxton, by Somnus, Leonessa, 4yrs, 6.12 ... (Coliello) 0

2465 1267 Thejrace is easily described. Occident showed in front momentarily, and then dropped back and held a good position throughout. Wakatip took up the ruuning and kept the lead until a mile and a half had been covered. Scots Grey, the favourite, made a forward move from the' ruck half a mile from home, but apparently could not reach theleaders.and his jockeydidnot persevere. When fairly in the straight St James headed Wakatipu, and a surprise appeared imminent; but as soon as Occident was headed for the run home he was given rein, and in a few strides the result was placed beyond doubt, Mr Stephenson's horse disposing of his opponents' without the least difficulty, and going on strongly passed the winning post, hands dowi?, three lengths in advance of St James, who beat Wakatipu by a length for second place. Cynisca was fourth, Masthe»d fifth, British Lion sixth, Scots Grey, Recluse, and Foxton, in that order, pulling up. Time 3min 9§see. Dividends-. Inside, £3 17s 6a' outside, £4 9s.

The Dunedin Stakes fell to Mr Harris' fine colt Pygmalion. Mr Stephenson's horses continued in the winning vein, Francotte beating a field of nine for the Carnival Handicap, and his recently purchased filly Tempest the Selling two-year-old race. The Selling race was won by Mr Toomey's Little Shamrock, and the Welter Handicap by Mr Anderson's Dispate. The comfort of visitors to the course on Saturday, the 30fch nit., was marred to a great extent by a stiff breeze amounting almost to a gale which prevailed, The Tally-ho Handicap was the first race. This was won by Mr Rutherford's Tornado, beating eight others Mr Stephenson was as successful as on the first day. Occident (with 8.5) won the President's Handicap, Hon. G. M'Lean's St. James (with 7.3) again running second; Tempest won the Criterion Stakes, and Francotte the Musselburgh Plate. The Onslow Plate (w.f.a.) furnished a fine race, Mr Gollan's Tirailleur, who had been made a favourite for the Cup, but was scratched on the day before the race, winning comfortably from last year's Dunedin Cup winner, Sultan, Mr Clifford's Cynisca, and Mr Stead's Canterbury Derby winner, Scots Grey. 'The Spring Handicap was won by Mr Ellis's Lady Florin, and the High-weight Handicap by Little Shamrock.

Tbe racing on Monday, the 2nd inst., was the most interesting of the three days'. Mr Rutherford again won the Hurdle Race, this time with AUua. Mr Ellis' Lady Florin appropriated the St. Andrew's Handicap, carrying 7.2, Occident, with 9.2, failing to get a place. Me Dooley's Quickstep won the Novel Race. Mr Stead's Scots Grey won the Jubilee Plate, w.f.a Mr Webb's Ruby the Grand Stand Handicap, the Hon. G. M'Lean's Emmason the Two-year-old Maiden Kaudicap, and Mr Qudaille' Kon Loup the Consolation Race.

There was a fourth day's racing on the 7th insc, but it was devoted mainly to trotting, and resulted in revealing a flyer named Princess, who ran first in both her heats for the one-mile and two-mile events, and notwithstanding her penalty won the final of each, her supporters clearing close on £1000 in totalisator money. Financially the meeting was a success, but unfortunately it has led to a breaoh between a number of Northern owners and the D.J.C. These owners wrote a letter stating that unless" a change was made in the handicapping they would withdraw their horses from the handicaps at the Auto.-on meeting, and as the club naturally declined to comply with such a highhanded demand to change its official at the request of outsiders, the owners withdrew 10 horses from the Dunedin Cup and 13 from the Publicans' Handicap. What action the club will take remains a matter for conjecture, as nothing will be done until the annual meeting.