NORTH OTAGO JOCKEY CLUB RACES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1480, 27 March 1880, Page 20

NORTH OTAGO JOCKEY CLUB RACES.

Second Day— March 18th. The weather was again all that the most exacting could desire for the races, bub the at* tendance waa even Bmaller than yesterday. It is doubtful if those who purchased the privileges will get their money back. With the exception of the Autumn Handicap and the Hack Soiling Steeplechase, the races do not call for any particular attention. Three offive horses which were on the card for the Maiden Plate were scratched, and May Morn had the easiest of easy victories over Nowlauds. The Steeplechase Handicap, which was expected to prove an interesting race between Tbilo, Little John, and Shillehgn, was robbed of oil interest by the two first-named horses baulking at the firat fence, where they still remained when Shillelagh had gone round the course, with no other mishap than, a slight fall at one of the small hurdles, After this followed the Hack Selling Steeplechase, for Iwhich five horses started, including the old steeplechasers Tommy Dodd and Theodore, the latter of whom tarnished his fair reputation as a jumper by sticking altogether at the water- jump, by no means a difficult leap. Leap Year ran a very good race, after a struggle with Tommy Dodd and Wild Rose, and showed both pace and good jumping capabilities. Old Lottery ran very well for a time, but {was outpaced at the finish. The Autumn Handicap brought Luna, Chancellor, Blue Peter, and I'era to the post, and of these Chancellor had decidedly the call in what betting there was, and at the totalisator was mo3t freely backed. Blua Peter stood next in favour, and about an equal amount of attention was given to Luna and ! Tera, The race was a grand one ; Chancslbr made the pace a clinker from the start, and waa closely attended by the ofcherß, Passing the stand the quartette were almost in a line, aud they raced togather nearly half round the course. Chancellor w<«, how-ver, in a going mood,, and neither of the others could bead him, eventually winning a grand race by almost three-quarters of a length from Tera, behind whom followed Blue Peter, almoat a length away, while Luna was three or four lengths in the rear. The Novel Race was a very poor affair. Five of the eight on the card were scratched, and Adaaiant won as he Jikac 1 . For the Consolation, York wa3 for a time the only horse entered, and ifc wai thought the race would fall through ; but Deception waa eventually entered, and merely came to the post to enable York to wal lt over and obtain the Btakeß.- A Benevolont Hurry Scurry was afterwards got up, Lll being collected on the ground, and with entries made up Ll2 10.*, half of which goes to tho Benevolent Society. This brought the races to a clone, and it must be arlncufcted that, although the fields and stakes wero small, there wai soioe very good sport. The Committee of the Club are deserving of great credit for the manner in which they conducted tho arrangement?. Not a single dispute of any kind occurred. It Is probable that the next meoting of the Clul>, which will, I believo, be held about the eauie tima of tho yoir, will be characterised by larger sfcvke? ftiul fields. The following is a detailed account of the running : — MAIDEN PLATE, Of 30 sov3. Weight for age. Fov horses that have never won public money to the amount of £10, except in hack racos. Mr Evanß' b f May Morn, 5 yra, 9st . . (Cotton! 1 Mr O'Brien's b g Newlands, 3 yrs, Bst lib (Iloskins) 2 Lady Love, Little John, and the Little Lady colt were scratched. Newlands iv passing the stand first time had A lead of » ooupb of lecgths, M»y More, baxd

'' hdd, coming next 1 . At the baok of tho course May Morni'orgod ahead, and though Nawlanda made an effori; aftsr wards to c%tch hfic, the ruara won :<.s she. litcd, ia the slow dma of 3 mm. 19£ fl«;c. HANDICAP STEEPLECHASE, Of 50 soys. About three miles, over such course as the Stewards may direct. Nomination, 2 soys ; acceptance, 2 soys. Mr W Maitland's Shillelagh .. .. (Cotton) 1 Little J ohn and Tbilo also started. This was ttie mosfc disappointing of steeplechases ever held on tho course. At the st&rt , Little John and Shillelagh led ofi together, Thilo lying two or three lengths behind. The first jump was taken freely by the trio, but at the next both Little John aud Thilo baulked, and innumerable attempts were made to get thorn over what was by no means a formidable obstacle. Shillelagh, however, took tho jump comfortably, and galloped away round the course, taking all nis jumps, including two fences aud a water -jump, very well. On he went without accident until nearly reaching the gorso fence, which the other two wero still baulkingat, endeavouring to get over. In takiDg a common jump near this place, Shillelagh struck and HI, but Cotton held on to his horse, aud was quickly in the saddle ag*in. The gorse fence was once more successfully negotiitad by Shillelagh, and this time Thilo was induced to follow, but Little John quietly retired. Thilo then had the satisfaction of following Shillelagh to the winning-post. HACK SELLING STEEPLECHASE, Of 25 sove. The winner to be sold for £21 ; all surplus money to go to the race fund. About two miles, over such course as the Stewards may direct. Post entry, 2 soys. lOst up. Mr A M'Kay's Leap Year .. .. (Allan} 1 Mr Oliver's Tommy Dodd .. .. (TM'Kay) 2 Mr Schluter's Wild Rose .. .. 3 Theodore and Lottery also ran. The lot went aw&y well together, and all tho jumps were taken vory well until tbe waterjump wast reached, wben old Theodore baulked, and, failing to get over, was left out of the hunt. Leap Year had now a strong lead, and was never afterwarda caught, though Wild Rose and Lottery made aa effort to get up to him. The latter, however, soon tired, and the former had not sufficient pace to bring her to the front. She, however, held a good position until reaching the last jump from home, and then gave old Tommy Dodd the second place. Leap Year wa^ landed a comfortubla winner by several l^nglha from Tommy Dodd, May Morn being a fair third. The winter wao put up to auction, and bought by Mr Wil-jon for L 22. AUTUMN HANDICAP, Of 50 soys. One and three-quarter mile. Nomination £2 ; acceptance, £2. Mr H Goodman's br h Chancellor, 5 yra, 7st6lb .. .. •• (Eudings) 1 Messrs Mason and Vallance's eh f Tera, • 3 yrs, sst 121b .. .. (Hoskins) 2 Mr A M'Kay's g g Blue Peter, aged, Cat 41b .. .. .. .. (MAllan) 8 Luna also ran. The lot were sent off to a capital start. Chancellor at onoe took up the running, and made tbe pace warm, with the other threeall abreast. Passing the stand the first time Chancellor was a neck in front, Luna about tha same advantage over Blue Peter. Going round the back of the course, Chancellor, with tho inside running, drew slightly away, and Blue Peter fell back a little. This order was maintained for a few Bfcrides, and then Luna went up to the leader and challenged him. The two raced together for some distance, but Chancellor was in a running humour, and could not bo headed. Luna then fell back, and was quickly passed by Tera and Blue Peter, who ia their turn endeavoured to catch the leader, but without success, Chancellor being lauded a winner by about thrae-quarters of a length from Tera, who beat Blue Peter by a length for second place. Luna waa only a moderate third. Time, 3 mm. 13 sec, NOVEL RACE, Of 50 soys. The winner to be sold immediately after the race, the whole of the proceeds to go to the race funds. Nomination, 2 soys. Onco round. Mr Cotton's eh c Adamant, 3 yrs, Sst 41b . . 1 Mr Evans' br m May Morn, 4 yrs, 7st 21bs . . 2 Mr A M'Kay's br m Deception, aged, Sat 41b . . 3 Little John, Duntroon, Newlands, Ladylove, and Jack the Flat vvera scratched. Deception took up the running until the back of the course wa3 reached, when Adamant went to the front and drew away from the others. Coming round to enter the straight, May Morn made a rush and attempted to pass Adamant, but the attempt proved futile, Adamant coming in the winner. CONSOLATION HANDICAP, Of 20 soys. Once round. For all beaten horses. Mr Goodman's York and Deception were entered, but Deception merely came to the post to enable York to canter round the cour3a for the stakes. BENEVOLENT SCURRY, Of £21 10s. For all untrained horses. Entrance, ss. Once round. Half the money to go to the Benevolent Society. Mr Wilson's Thunder Jack .. .. ..1 Mr Schluter's Wild Rose .. .. ..2 Mr M'Corkindale's Spider .. .. ..3 Two others started for this race, which was won rather easily by Thunder Jack.