RACING IN NEW ZEALAND. CHRISTCHURCH HUNT CLUB STEEPLECHASES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1812, 13 August 1886, Page 24

RACING IN NEW ZEALAND. CHRISTCHURCH HUNT CLUB STEEPLECHASES.

Christchubch, August 11.

The Christchurch Hunt Club Steeplechases were held to-day. A half holiday was proclaimed, and most of the large firms closed their places of business, but the attendance at the course was not numerous. Considering the recent rain, the course was in good order. The weather was fine. The results are as follow :—

THE OPEN HANDICAP, Of 7580v5. Ab ut three mlle3 over the Grand National Steeplechase course.

Mr P. Butler's Faugh-a 7 ballagh, list 21b (Lyford) 1 Mr H. Lunn's eh g Canard, aged 12st 121b *

(Owner) 2

Mr X J. Mason'B g g Victor, agedi list 2lb

(J. Rae) 3

Secretary also rau. After the flag fell, Faugh-a-ballagh was taken to the front, with Victor as his nearest attendant. The pair rau several lengths in front of Secretary and Canard to the first fence, Mammoc bringing tip the rear, a position he occupied throughout the race. Faugh-a-ballagh kept increasing his lead, and was soon rattling away two lengths in front, all jumping beautifully. They ran in this order past Ford's, when the four took close order, though their positions were unaltered. At the double they were all within a few lengths of ono another, and no change took place till Faugh-a-ballagh shot away again and obtained another good lead. This he maintained all the way home, and though Victor had a cut at him and Canard followed suit, Lyford kept his mount going and won a really pretty race by five or six lengths; Canard, with his big impost, struggling home second, Victor two lengths away, third, and Secretary fourth. Dividends : Inside, £2 9s ; outside, £2 7s: HUNTERS' HURDLE RACE. Of SOsovs. About one mile and a-half . Mr W.Weston's Aroha, 12at 101b ... ' 1 Mr F. Cotton s Malvino, 9st 101b ... "/. 2 Mr R. J. Mason's Free Lance, 125t*31b... ' '" 3 Five others ran. Dividends: £7 5s and £9 6s. The Hunt Club Handicap, of 50sovs, 2| miles, was won by Mr G. Rutherford's Bredonhill, beating six others. The Tai,ly-ho Plate, of 30sovs, 2 miles, was a victory for the Hon. R. Rodney's Cardinal in a field of nine. The dividends were exceptional, being £78 18s and £47 ss. In the Hunters' Fla.t Race, of 25sovs, there were only two starters. Mr Starkey's Lounger was the lucky one. • The dividend in this race was also exceptional, but in a different way. The backers of the winner received £1 2s 6d. This was the last race of the card. WAIMATE STEEPLECHASE MEETING (Fkom Our Own Correspondent.) Timabu, August 5. The Waimate Steeplechases were held today. The weather was fine and the attendance only moderate. The sport altogether was of a very fair description. The following are the results :—: — WAIMATR STEEPLECHASE HANDICAP. Of lOOsovs. Three miles. Mr R Mason's Victor, 12st ... ... (J.Eay) 1 Mr R Rutherford's Faugh-a-ballagh, 12st 71b (Lyford) 2 The Lad and Sultan also started. Sultan went off with the lead followed by Faugh-a-ballagh, Victor, and The Lad, but on coming to the gorse at the western corner Victor ran up into first place, and the Lad in taking the fence came to grief. Faugh-a-ballagh soon afterwards overhauled Victor and negotiated the fence into the field again with six lengths lead. Sultanthenranintosecondplace,andtaking the water jump the order was — Faugh-a-ballagh, Sultan, and Victor, a length separating- them. Sultan tripped at the sticks on the eastern side, letting Victor in, and at the double over the road baulked and would not come up. The race was then between Faugh-a-ballagh and, Victor, the former keeping <t lead of two lengths till the jump into the straight, when Victor came up with a dash and won by a length. Dividend, £2 11s. MAIDEN PLATE, Of 30sovs. Two miles. Mr M. C. Studholme's Warlock, 12st 3lb (Lyford) 1 Eclipse, the only other starter, baulked at the first fence, allowing Warlock to canter round. Dividend, £1 11s. WAIMATE STEEPLECHASE CUP, Of SOsovs. Two miles and a;half. Mr Rutherford's Faugh-a-ballagh, 12st 71b (Lyford) 1 Mr Mason's Victor, 12st 71b ... (Ray) 2 The race virtually lay between Faugh-a-bal-lagh and Victor, Sultan (the other starter) having fallen at the water jump and baulked at the first double. Faugh-a-ballagh won from the. start, though hard pushed by Victor, by two lengths. Dividend, £2 14s. FARMERS' PLATE. Of 20SOV8. Once round. Mr Rhodes' Ben H , I2st ... (C. Dunn) 1 Mr Pelham Jones' Coryphee, list 71b (Owner) 2 Mr Armitage's Dick, 12st ... (Cornelius) 3 Seven started. Ben H. led from the start. A good race ensued between Coryphee and Dick for second honours, Coryphee holding his own by half a neck. Dividend, £2, The Consolation Handicap of 20sovs, 2 miles, was won by Mr Bradley's Sultan (list 91b) in a canter, The Lad baulking at the second double. Dividend, £2 11s. Several spills occurred during the day, but nothing of moment.