HAWKE'S BAY JOCKEY CLUB RACES.

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

HAWKE'S BAY JOCKEY CLUB RACES.

First Day— Makoh 17(,h. Napieb, March 17th. The Jockey Club* meeting to-day was highly successful. His Excellency the Governor and Lady Robinson were present, and about 2500 people were on the ground, Tho meeting was, taken altogether, a j.il f 'a'-iag coutrast to the Racing Club's meeting a*; Pakowbai yesterday. The fitlda were good, aud tho racing excellent. In every race, wifh the exception of tha Railway Stukes, the f»vonrit°s were bowled over. MAIDEN PLATE, Of 00 soys. Distance, one mile and a-half. Mr R Farmer's Parmena, 7st 131b . . (Williams) 1 Mr Ray's Saunterer, Bst 91b (including 71b penalty) (Nolan) 2 Mr Walters' Grand Duchess .. ..(Hudson) S Humphries' Darkie also started. RAILWAY STAKES, Of 30 soys. Weight for age. Three-quarters of a mile. Mr Walters' b c Billingsgate, Bst 81b ..(Hudson) 1 Mr Powdrell's eh »• Hero, Bst 111b . . (Willis) 2 Mr A M'Donald's b h Merlin, 9st . .(Bremner) 3 Russell's Topaz, Hay's Never Miss, and Hapuka's Tare also started. Romeo and Talent wore scratched. Betting : 2to 1 on Billingsgate, 3 to 1 agst Hero. Merlin made the runniDg, followed by Billiogsgata, Never Miss. Eero, Topaz, and Tare in the order named. Coming inr.'o tao turn for home Billiug.-igate passad Merlin, and Hero ran into second place. Hudson l&nded Billingsgate an ea«y wiuuor hy two lengths. NAPIER HANDICAP, Of 200 soys. Distance, one mile and three-quarters. Mr Keith's Soukar, Ost 41b . . . . (Taylor) 1 Mr Vallance'a Vampire, Ost 61b (including penalty 71b) .. .. .. .. (Webster) 2 Mr M'Donald's Merlin, Gst 31b . . 3 Mr # Walters' Libeller, Renata Kawepo'a Otupai, ami RobioKon'a Parawlienua a!*o ran. Bettiug: 6 to 4 on Vampire, 4 to 1 pgat Merlin, 3 to 1 agsfc Soukar, 6 to 1 agst Ot«pai 1 12 to 1 agst Libeller aud Farawhenua. T,b9W was a capital «Ui't. At the first &t»

tempt Merlin got away with Vampire in close attendance, Parawlienua and Otupai next, with Sonkar bringing up the rear. Passing the stand the fhwt time, found MerU't l?a-1iog. No change occurred nntil tbeinita and a-balf was reached, when Soukar, who until this had been waiting, ran through his horses and challenged the leader. Merlin here bfgaa to fall back, and tho race was left to Vampiro and Soukar. Tho former wa3 hoou after in difficulties, and Soukar drawing away won iv a canter by a length. Merlin third, Parawhenua fourth, and Otupai last. CORINTHIAN CUP, Of 40 so»fl. Two miles. Gentlemen rider*. Mr Ray's Romeo . . . . . . . . 1 Mr Walters' Billingsgate .. .. ..2 Mr Murray's Pouriri .. ... ..8 Saunterer, Te Whetu, and Grey Momus also ran. The race waa won easily by a length.