DUNEDIN RACES. FIRST DAY, FRIDAY, MARCH 20.

Otago Witness, Issue 852, 28 March 1868, Page 13

DUNEDIN RACES. FIRST DAY, FRIDAY, MARCH 20.

Notwithstanding the disagree,ablen'ess of the weather on Thursday evening, and the threatening appearance of the clouds in the early part of to day, the heavy "wind prevented rain. The dust was unpleasant, but not so much as to prevent; a' goodly number visiting the race course. It is satisfactory to imagine'that the floods liave not quite ruined the Province, for the crops on each side of the road appeared to be heavy and ready for the sickle. The attendance at the races was good, there being upwards of a thousand people on the course. With regard to the amusements on the ground, much need not be said. The booths, the stand, the paddocks, the " Here you are ! try your strength," the " Fortune for a shilling," were all well patronised. There was the usual amount of gratulation by the winners and of growling by the losers, both -which were eventually 'settled by the Stewards, the protests presented having "been dismissed. • Throughout the day but few accidents occurred. At the finish of the Hurdle race, it seemed bad judgment for the first two horses to jump the outer hurdle ; for had either fallen, one or the other might have lost the race. Subjoined are the particulars of the various events :—: — Maiden Plate of 70 soys ; entrance, 5 soys; distance, 14 mile ; weight for age. Mr J. G. G. Glassford's eh g Lauder, 3 yrs .'.(M'Gregor) 1 Mr W. C. Webb's gr g Billy, aged (Hay) 2 MrC. 0. Hoyt's grin Alice Hawthorne, 5 yrs (J. Smith) 3 The rest nowhere. Time, 2min. 59sec. Betting : 3to 1 v agst. Devon ; 4to 1 .agst. Billy ; 5 to 1 agst. Lady Teazle. Handicap Hurdle Eace of 75 soys ; entrance 5 soys ; two miles and a distance, over ten flights of hurdles. Mr W. D. Barnard's g g Don Pedro, aged, (R. Bay) 1 Mr W. H. Taggart's b g Clown, 5 yrs, (O'Brien) 2 For this race six horses started. Stonewall baulked at the first jump. Opposite the Grand Stand Native had the lead ; but the first at the stand in the first round was Nigger. With the exception of Topthorn, all the horses entered started. Many of the hurdles were knocked down, and the race was not a very exciting one. Betting : Don Pedro and Native against the Field. Otago Jockey Club Handicap of 200 soys., added to a sweepstake of 7 soys each ; nomination, 5 soys ; distance two miles. Mr J. G. G. Glassford's b g Schoolboy, aged (Waddell) 1 Mr F. Wentworth's b g Firetail, 5 yrs. (Goodman) 2 "Mr W. H. Taggart's eh h Stormbird, aged (O'Brien) 3 10 horses started. Time, 3min. 55sec. There was not much betting on this race, the general impression being that it was a good thing to lay 7 to 4 on the " Field." Although the ground was hard, the Miller ran well, but was overweighted, and consequently only took fourth place. After the race, two protesta were entered for jostling — one by Mr Taggar't, against the rider of Firetail ; the other by Mr H. Hill, ' pro Mr Wentworth, against the rider of Stormbird. After some discussion, the Stewards -dismissed both the protests. Taieei Stakes of 100 soys ; entrance, 5

soys. ; distance, one mile ; weight, 2 yrs. , 6st. 21b. ; 3 yrs., Bst. 31b. ; 4 yrs., 9st. 31b. ; 5 yrs , 6 yrs., and aged, 9st 71bs. W. C. Webb's eh g Bobbie Burns, 2 yrs.

(Goodyer) 1 W. H. Taggart's b m Virginia, aged (O'Bnen) 2 Time— l.so. Betting — Virginia and Bobbie Burns against the field. Opposite the Grand Stand, Star of the South took the lead, but soon gave in to Bobbie. Handicap Trotting "Race of 60 soys. ; entrance 5 soys. ; three miles and a distance ; optional saddle or harness, no weight under lOst lb •George Smith's b g Hanger, aged (Smith) 1 C. J. Hoyt's b cj Uonato, aged 2 W. H. Tavgart's b g Major, aged, pulled up.