SOUTH CANTERBURY HUNT CLUB STEEPLECHASES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1764, 12 September 1885, Page 20

SOUTH CANTERBURY HUNT CLUB STEEPLECHASES.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.; TiaLiRU, September 3. 1 The South Canterbury Hunt Club Steeplechases to-day were a great success so far as the weather and racing were concerned; indeed; taken as a whole, better contests have rarely been seen here before. They were held on the Timaru racecourse. The ground was in good, order, and the attendance was about 600—some' 300 going by rail, and the rest by road. Thef ladies mustered in great strength. The following are the results of the various events: — HANDICAP CLUB CUP STEEPLECHASE, Of 20 soya. For qualified hunters, to be ridden by members of any recognised hunt club; maiden riders allowed 7lb. Open to all hunters in tho South Island. About two and a-half miles. Mr A Gladstone's Chance, 6 yrs, list lllb (Owner) -1 Mr JH C Bond's Victor, aged, 12st 71b (Cotton) 2 Mr E H Benzon's Robin Hood, list 31b (Boyle) 3 'Mr C A Jefferson's Ormidale, 12st ... (Owner) 0t ', Donald (list 101b), All-fours (list 21b), 1 Myrtle (list 21b), Hadlow (lOst 71b), MaoA (lOst 51b) also ran. Doveridge and Rona were scratched. , Of £135 in the totalisator, £50 was onChance. Dividend, £3 0s 6d. Mr Orbell tools the field to a paddock at the; back of Stevenson's, where he lost no time in getting them away in good order. Victor led over the first fence, Chance second, and the others well up. Going through the ploughed ground the lot straggled out. The next jumpand the double across the road were negotiated by Victor, Chance, and All Pours in the order, named. Ormidale then ran into third place,, and Donald for a time mnde a good enow, but, i baulking 'at the uext fence, fell behind again.

At the new fence at the back of the course All Fours bolted, and was thenceforth out of the running. At the new post and rails Victor still had a good lead, with Chance I second, Ormidale third, and Myrtle fourth. Chance took a lead from Victor at the double, "but he did not keep his advantage long, as he -was challenged and passed. No alteration took place until coming on to the course proper .-again, when Robin Hood got on close terms with the leaders. He seemed to stand a good show of winning, but struck the second fence from home, ana though well saved could not make up for lost time. Chance overhauled Victor at the last fence, and came in a comparatively easy ■winner by about two lengths. Hadlow had previously come to grief over a gorse fence, and his rider looked for a while as if he was going to get into trouble, but after all got well clear of his stirrup. MATCH. Ou the flat, No weight under list. Mr G. H. Benzon's The Old Firm (late Donald), aged... ... ... ... (Jefferson) 1 3lr Lindsay's The Shifter ... (Boyle) 2 MAIDEN STEEPLECHASE. Weight for age. For qualified hunters that have never won a steeplechase of any description, and that have been regularly hunted with any recognised hounds. To be ridden by members of any recognised hunt club. Open to all hunters iv the South Island. About two miles. Mr P. "Waring's Satellite, 12st 31b (Gordon Wood) 1 Mr \V. S. Armitage's Gabriel Junks, list 31b ' ' (A. Delamain) 2 Mr B. R. M'Donald's Jack, 12st 31b (A. Cox) 3 Dalham, 12st 31b (Stevenson) also ran. Edelweiss and Wildflower were scratched. Total in totalisator, £116; on winner, £15; dividend, £6 15s. Another good start was effected, Satellite showing the way over the first fence, with Jack second, Gabriel Junks third, and Dalham fourth. At the back of the course Jack ran off and lost bis chance of scoring a victory. At the gorse fence Satellite still led, with Dalham second, and Gabriel a good third. The stone wall in front of the ' stand was well taken by Satellite, but Dalham went on the wrong side of the flag, and allowed Gabriel to take second place. Tie two latter baulked at the double hurdle leading off the course, but on making a second attempt were more or less successful. Dalham improved his pace, and through Satellite refusing the next double got ahead of him. For a time he looked like carrying off the laurels, especially as Gabriel had stuck up for a time, and the pace became very warm. The two got on even terms again, aud a neck-and-neck r_aee ensued till the last fence from home, which Satellite struck, but was well saved by Wood. Dalham, however, came down a cropper, his rider (Stevenson) being stunned, and lying for some time insensible. Gabriel Junks came in a fair second. HUNTERS' FLAT HACB HANDICAP, Of 15sovs. For qualified hunters that have never won any race of the value of 20 soys. Open to all hunters in the South Island. Two miles. Mr A Gladstone's Chance, 12st 71b (Owner) 1 Mr B H Benzon's Doveridge, list 51b (Jefferson) 2 Mr A Boyles' Wildflower, lOst 121b ... ... 3 I Rambler, Dalham, Johnson's Luggage, Uncle Henry, and Peppercorn also ran. Totalisator total, £264; on winner, £84 ; dividend, £2 ' 16s 6d. This race was started in the teeth of a stiff nor-weste,r. Mr Orbell'had some trouble jin getting the horses away, but when at last set-in motion Rambler plunged off with the ,lead. Passing the stand the pace was a merry one, Rambler having a good advantage, Wildflower second, and Johnston's Luggage third. At the back" of the course the wind had again to be faced, and the pace slackened. Wildflower challenged Rambler, and the two kept in close company till coming into the straight, when Chance went throiigh with a rush, and won in splendid style. The finish was a most exciting one. HACK STEEPLECHASE, Of 10 soys. No weight under list. About one and a-half mile. 'Mr M J'Godby's Silver King ... (Mazengarb) 1 Mr A Gladstone's Wang ... (Cox) 2 Mr G Rutherford's The Mount ... (Stevenson) 3 Tommy, Polly, Unit, Billy, and The Old Firm also ! started. Totalisator : Total, £158 ; on winner, £44 ; dividend, £3 4s 6d. This was the most exciting and best contested race of the day, though not a little amusement was caused at the beginning by all the horses but Billy refusing the stone wall immediately in front of the stand. No time was lost in putting them at it again, and Billy's lead did not. avail him much. The running was principally cut out by Silver King, Billy, Wang, and The Mount. The field kept in close company nearly all r,ound. Silver King was only landed a winner by a neck, gained on the post. The Mount was a good third. The victor was heartily cheered on weighing out. LADIES' BRACELET HANDICAP STEEPLECHASE, Open to all hunters in the South Island. About two miles. ' Miss Agiiew's Donald, list 61b (Gordon Wood) 1 ! Mrs Davis' Victor, 12st rib... ... (Cotton) 2 Miss G Smithson's Robin Hood, list 61b (Stevenson) 3 Flirt, Roha, All Fours, Ormidale, aud Maud also ran. Johnston's Luggage, Rambler, and Hadlow were scratched. Totalisator : Total, 160 ; on winner, £2 • dividend, £72. The favourite, Victor, again got the best of a fair start, and showed the way> over the first fence, the others stringing out. The jumps were at first taken well, but the field soon'began to thin. At the stone wall Victor still led, with Donald close up. Ormidale here fell, and ! Rona went up to the leaders, getting into i second place over the road. This order was maintained till Hearing home, 1 the other horses being out of it. At the post-and-rails Rona, who was running splendidly and promised to be well up at the finish, came to grief. Donald mended his pace, and overhauled the grey, and though the latter struggled hard, he was beaten by fully three lengths. Robin Hood a fair third. CONSOLATION HANDICAP STEEPLECHASE. About two miles. Mr J H Bond's Victor ... ... (Cotton"> 1 Mr WSArmitage* All-fours (A Delamain) 3 MrEHßenzoas Dovendge ... (CHobbs) 3 Myrtle, Billy, Wang, and Johnston's Lug-ace also started. fa ° 6 Totalisator: Total, £los; on winner, £36 • dividend, £2 165. ' ' This race was run in the dusk of the evening and was rather difficult to watch. After a false start they got away somewhat straggling and Victor had the best of it, with Johnston's Luggage second. Very little change took place till getting into the road, when Myrtle fell, and All Fours gained on the leader, and shortly afterwards passed him, Johnston's Luggage being third. At the last fence before home, Victor was third, and it looked as if his last chance of ,the day was gone. This did not prove to he the case, and his many friends had the satisfaction of seeing him sweep into first place, All Fours landing a good second, Doveridge thud, and Johnston's Luggage fourth.