THE NEW ZEALAND CHAMPION AND OTAGO JOCKEY CLUB RACES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22203, 5 March 1934, Page 14

THE NEW ZEALAND CHAMPION AND OTAGO JOCKEY CLUB RACES.

Although at ani early hour yesterday morning the sky was rather overcast, the weather during' the races was all that could ;be desired. It was not till the return that the rain began to fall. . . . At about 0 o'clock the start for the races commenced, and from that hour until nearly 1 o'clock the road was lined with passengers on foot, on horseback, and in vehicles. We use for the last a comprehensive designation, as they included every possible variety of cart,

waggon, coach, and carriage. Noticeable amongst the many was one of Messrs Cole, Hoyt, and Co.'s coaches with a splendid team of six horses. ... , Thei-number- of , people on the course was very large, but scarcely so much as we expected, seeing that the day was very generally observed as'a holiday in Dunediri. . Next came the great race in the issue of which so many hopes and anxieties were centred. Mormon, instead of abating, seemed to increase in favour, and, slight odds were freely offered on him.' Shilelagh had many admirers, and the other three horses were not without friends. -The start was a very tolerable one, Mormon and Revoke having slightly the advantage in it. The race is told in a dozen words. Mormon led from the start to the distance the last turn round, when Lady Bird closed up and won, after a stout struggle in the straight running. So much did Mormon look like winning during the race that two to one was freely offered on him, and five to' one was laid against Lady Bird during the progress of the Ultima could have secured third place, but his jockey pulled up just before reaching the Judge r s stand, and Revoke secured third honours—not barren honours, by-the-bye, as a considerable amount of money depended on the places. The time 5 min. 55A sec. is, we believe, quicker than that of any previous Champion Race. The victory of a New Zealand horse, and especially the fact of its belonging to so popular a sportsman ag Mr. Redwood, elicited loud cheers from the people present, which must have been exceedingly gratifying to the lucky proprietor of the mare. ... [The Champion Race was for a purse of 1000 sovs; with a sweepstake of 100 sovs each added; the second horse receiving 200 sovs out of the stake, and tlie third to save his stake, if more than three started. There were five starters.]