SOUTHLAND NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 38

SOUTHLAND NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent:)

INVERCARGILL, April 10.

The inauguration of two days' racing at Riverton was a decided success last Monday and Tuesday. On Monday the weather was almost perfect — the breeze perhaps a little too strong, but still an ideal day for racing ; while on Tueaday the little rain that fell in the morning did not keep away many people ard softened the course a little. The attendance both day 3 was good, and on Monday a record one, over £80 being taken at the gates. Speculation was brisk, despite the fact that avciy race was started within a minute" or two of the advertised times, £2278 the first day and £1659 the second day finding its way tliroii,;o A Mr* Mason's hands. The management— hitherto tho worst part of this favourite meeting ---was exemplary, and would compare very favourably with that at conic metropolitan meetings. Mr Winton (tho secretary), Mr Willett (the clerk of scales), Mr Bunton (the starter), and Mr Wholers (the starter s steward) were most energetic in their successful efforts to make things go bmartly, and their combined work to get the events off punctually was fully appreciated by the public. The improvements to the build- ! iii^gs on tho course are not numerous; but I understand that they are to be considerable before next Easter. The most noticeable was a new judge's box, with telegraph communication to the totalisator.

The hero of -the meeting was Jupiter (by St. Clair), he winning three races and running a dead heat for first place with Glenelg in the big race the pecond day. All his ra-ces were won easily, and the best price he paid was in the Flying Handicap, when backers even then had to lay 10 to 9 on. Doubtless, the very superior hack, comes next with two wins, which but for Mi Woodward leaving his run too late with him in the Farmers' Plato should have been three. He Tvas in good form, and ran very gamely under his heavy imposts. Seabreak was ceitainly the Steeplechase hero, for he won the two handicaps over the big country in fine style, and both horse and rider (M'Kay) were heartily applauded each day. The two huidlo racas were soft things for the ex-hack Waik.aia, who, with the -\ etcran Cotton up, waa the favourite on both occasions. Falcon, a Cate&by gelding, simply ran away with the Maiden Plats the first day, and ran a fair secend to Jupiter in the Flying Handicap ; but unfortunately for his owners heb-rokedown rather badly in the Apnrima Handicap the second day. Only three horses started in the Maiden Steeplechase, and half a mile from home it looked as if Corsair must win easily, bxit Mr Saunders ther commenced to shake up Redleap, and the Hastings gelding answering very gamely, Mr Saunders landed his third successive victory in this race by a head. In the Farmers' Plate, Metz, a big, strong son of Lorraine, had a lucky win from Doubtless, and was nicely handled by Mr M'Pherson. After trying for nearly six months. O'Toole won a stake with Seabreeze. The Nelson mare was mado favourite in the Aparima Handicap, and landed the race after a fine finish with the veteran Dilemma. Seadrift, after a very pretty race, beat the odds-on favourite Doubtless in the District Race, and paid the best dividend of the meeting— £B 14s. In the Easter Hani;cap, Glenelg and Jupiter made a good race of it, and the judge gave his verdict a dead heat, though many people in a good position to judge aver that tho black colt won by a short head. In the Shorts Handicap Tassy got a very bad start ; but still he must have won had Barmby not interfered with him in the straight. His run was certainly one of the most brilliant I have ever seen, and Red Robin had a very lujky win. Duncan, with five wins, comes out on top of tho riders at the meeting, and Cotton and M'Kay each rode two winners. The other winning riders were Cameron, Henry, Bamber. King, M'Kenzie, Townson, Mr Saunders, and Mr M'Phcrson, who rode a winner each. W. Duncan had hard luck during the meeting. His team only got one win in, while Falcon broke down, and Duncan had a nasty spill each day in the Steeplechase. The win of Ellis's representative .in the double the first day makes it the third year in succession that he haa carried off this 'double. ' The local horses engaged at Invercargill this month are all training again, after a day or two's fapell after Riverton. The nominations for Invercargill are very numerous, and easily constitute a record for Southland. Given fine weather the meeting should be a successful one.