RACING IN NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 1851, 17 August 1893, Page 30

RACING IN NEW ZEALAND.

GRAND NATIONAL MEETING.

First Day— Thursday August 10. The weather was fine, but the course fctill dead from the recent wet weather. The attendance was even larger than last year's. The racing was rather poor, there being only two well-contested finishes. The Grand National Steeplechase was practically all over a mile from home, where Victrix, when going very strongly, fell when racing in the lead with Mutiny. The latter then tired, as did Norton ; but Waterbuty, fencing well, passed them bofch, and ran home the most comfortable of winners. The faUs were unusually numerous, and three of them looked very nasty, but none proved serious, and noEe of the horses were injured. There was also an unusually large number of refusals, tho recent unfavourable weather having prevented schooling. The amount put through the totalisator was £6682. Results :— ■ FIRST HUNIERS' HURDLE RACE HANDICAP, Of 60sovs ; second horse lOsovs. Once round and and a distance. Mr G. D. Crowe's g g Silvertail, by Dlomedes. aged, 11.5 (Gilcbnst) 1 Mr B. R. Macdonald's eh g Invader, (syrs, 11.3 (Owner) 2 Mr C. Wynn-Williams's b g Bellbird, aged, 11.0 (Owner) 3

Black Hawk 12.7, Matariki 11.7, Wildfire 11.0, St. Barbe 11.0, Jaffa 11.0 (carried 11.2), and Lawrence 11.0 also started.

Matariki, followed by Invader and Matariki, led over the initial obstacle, where Wildfire fell. At Cutts's, Black Hawk took command, but ran round the next fence, and Bellbirdtook the lead. Afc the kennels luvader went to the front and led into the straight, bub before the last fence was reached was challenged by Silvertail and Bellbird, and Silvertail getting the befcfc of the struggle in the last fesc strides won by a head, Bellbird, two lengths away, third Time, 3min 28sec. Dividends, £14 9s and £b 2s. MAIDEN HURDLE KACE HANDICAP, Of lOOsovb ; second horse Issovs. One mile and three-quarters. Mr M. Walker's br g Liberator, by Betrayer— Diana, aged, 10.11 ... ••-.-•„ (Powell) 1 Mr T. Toomey's b g Jacob Faithful, 6yv*. 9 9 Mr G. W. M'Rao's b g Bjlquither, syrs, 9.3 ' (Walls) .1 - Freeman 11.9, Ben Trovato 9.3, and Jack 10.3 also ran. Balquither led past the stand well clear of Jack, with Liberator third and Ben Trovato whipping in. Balquither still had the lead as they entered the straight, but Liberator and Jacob Faithful were abreast of him at the last fence. Here Balquither retired, and Liberator, who had lost ground at the obstacle, comrag again, won by a neck; Balquither, three lengths away, third. Time, 3min 43£ sec. Dividends, £3 6s and £3 11s.

GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE HANDICAP, Of 500sovs ; second horse 75sovs and third 25dovs. About three milts and a-half. Mr W. Douglaß's eh g Waterbury, by Natator -Sunshine, aged, 10.8 (Hope) 1 MrD. Rutherford's chg Norton, aged, 12.12 (Clarke) 2 Mr Douglas's eh g Mutiny, aged, 10.7 (Fergus) 3 Empire 11.5, Gondolier 11.3, Clarence 11.0. Tiritea 11, Magpie 10.12, Victrix 10.10, Despised 10.5, Regalia9.B, Bide-a-Wee9.7, and Jacob 9.7 also started.

Empire was first away, but on settling down Mutiny drew out and showed the way down the straight and past the stand, followed by Bide-a-Wee, Jacob whipping in. Mutiny was still in command as they swept past Cutts's. At the next fence Tiritea, Empire, Regalia, Despised, and Jacob refused, and Mutiny went on to the kennels, well clear of Bide-a-Wee, with Victrix, Norton, and Clarence following in that order, and Tiritea and Despised (who had got over the fence at which they refused) whipping in. At the kennels, fell, and Victrix going through joined the leader, and the pair swept round the up turn well clear of Clarence and Norton, who were lying side by side, with Waterbury next. As they came down the straight Victrix drew out and crossed the double in front of the stand, ]U6t clear of Mutiny, with Norton lying third, Waterbury fourth, while Clarence fell at the second fence of the double, and Tiritea again refused. At Cutts's Muting was again in front and at the next fence Victrix fell, leaving Mutiny to go on past the kennels well clear of Waterbury, who had supplanted Norton at Ford's, afc which point Gondolier refused. By the time the top turn was reached Waterbury had drawn up to Mutiny, while Norton had got a trifle closer to the leaders and Magpie had commenced to movo up. Once in the straight Mutiny was in hopeless difficulties and. Waterbury. jumping the last fence well in advance, weut on anil won jeasily by 20 lengths from Norton, with Mutiny five lengths away third, and Magpie fourth. Time, Bmin lisec. Dividends, £19 16s 6d and £18 Us 6d.

TALLY-HO PLATE STEEPLECHASE, Of 50-ovs ; second horse lOsovs. About two miles. Mr J F. Nugent's loan, g Amalgam, by - Natator, 6yrs, 12.7 (Healey) 1 Mr B. R M'Donald's b g Muckross, aged, 12.7 (Owntr) 2 Mr J. Moore's b g Victor, Eyrs, 12.0 (F. Courage) 3 Rouald 12.7, Gillie 12.7, and Mount Cook 12 7 also started. Ronald was first aw»y. but fell at the double. Opposite the s l and Gillie, Mount Cook, and Victor refused, leaving Amalgam and Muckross to go on well clear of th« others. Gk iog down the back stretch Amalgam drew out, Gillie and Mount Cook again refused, and Victor went on third, half a mile behind the leaders. At the top turn Muclfoss joined Amalgam, but the latter drew out on the flat, and won easily by half a leDgth, Victor, half a mile away, third. Time, 4'uin 37£ see. Dividends, £2 14s and £2 s*.

ladies' bracelet, Of 7530v5 ; second horse 15sovs. Two miles on the flat. Mrs G. E. Rbodes's b g Master Rojal, by Master Asno*, syrs, 11 8 (O'Rorke) 1 Mrs W. O. Rutherford's eh eSolomoa, 4pn>, 11 0 . ~ (Kimbull) 2 Mrs J. Holmes' 3 b g Radical, syrs, 11.8 (Healey) 3 Lord Hopetoun 11.10, Sheela 11.8, and Whirligig 11.0, also started. Solomon led into tho straight, but Master Royal getting his head in front at the distance won by a bare length; Radical, two lengths away, third. Time, 3min 48^60. Dividends, £3 i6s and £5 lla.

MAIDEN STEEPLECHASE, Of7ssovs; second boras lOsovs. About two miles. . Mr J. Tennanfs b g Robin, by VermicelliCampanella, aged, 11.7 (Gourley) 1 Matariki 11.7, Jacob 11.7, Wild Irishman J1.7,

Bloodsucker 11.7, and Tornado 11.7 also started, but all fell. Dividends, £8 17s and £3 Us. WINTER HANDICAP FLAT HACK, Of 115sovs ; second horse lOsovs. One mile and a-quarter. Mr P. M'Grath's eh g The Idler, by Bundoora— Lady Dagworth, 6yrs, 11.8 ... (Owner) 1 Mr R. Ray, jun's, eh g Specton, 6yrs, 10.1 Mr J. Brabaz6n's Dora, 4yrs, 10.7 (Derrett) 3 Vogengang 11.8, Cajolery 11.5, Galtee U.o, Awarua Rose W l3, First King 10.6, Melusina 10.1, Dunoon 10 1, Wayland 10.0, Despised 10.0, Maria Martin 10.0, and New Headford 10.0, also ran.

Specton was leading at the distance, but was caught inside the rails by The Idler, who won by two lengths ; a similar distance between second and third. Time, 2min SO^sec. Dividends, £9 Is 6d and £8 7s.