SALTWATER CREEK STEEPLECHASE.

Timaru Herald, Volume V, Issue 110, 16 June 1866, Page 6

SALTWATER CREEK STEEPLECHASE.

The" first day of anything approaching real sport at Saltwater Creek came off ou Friday, June 6th, and for a beginning was certainly a great success —so much so that there is a great probabili ty of annual races now being held there.

The racing, although not between crack horses, created more fun and amusement than haa ever before been witnessed m the district.

The day was all that could be desired, and the attendance larger than we have ever before seen at the Otipua.

The great event of the day was the Maiden Steeplechase of £20 added to a sweepstake of £5 each, which was advertised to come off at noon, but did not start until about one o'clock.

There were m all three races during the afternoon, namely, the steeplechase, a hack hurdle race, and a hack race, besides tilting m the ring.

Mr. Stericker acted as judge, and Messrs Mackenzie, Duff, and Knight, aa stewards.

The first event, the steeplechase, for which there were five entries, caused considerable speculation, but Baroomga was the favourite. Both Spider and Larrie however found backers ; but the other two horses were scarcely mentioned. The course was one of the best which could possibly have been selected, as it took a circle round Mr Ficth'B house and the race could be seen from any portion of the hill 3 approaching the Saltwater Creek, either north or south. The distance was two miles, and some of the jumps were rather heavy ; but others, m our estimation, were scarcely high enough for a steeplechase. However, there is some excuse for such being the case, as several of the jumps had to be "made". The jockeys all appeared m correct costume.

The hack hurdle race caused considerable fun, because the whole of the jumps, with one exception, were knocked down the first time round ; but when the horse came to the winning post it was discovered that there was one hurdle standing, which all the horses had missed. Billy and Badger then started round the course again, ran the raco afresh, and knocked down the remaining hurdle, Billy coming m a winner by about two lengths. The following is a list of the racing : — Maiden Steeplechase of £5 each, with £20 I for all horses that have never won an advertised steeplechase or hurdle race ; two miles, over 12 leaps, catch weights. Mr J. Pilbrow's Tommy (Palmer) 1 Mr W. Moorhouse's Larrie (Owner) 2 Mr L. C. Thomson's Spider... (E. Guiness) 0 Mr John Thompson's Baroomga (Morphy) 0 Mr Shirley's Nelly (Owner) 0

At the start the horses got away well together with Spider leading, and Tommy second, and Larrie, Baroorogi, and Nelly m close order. At the first leap Spider and Tommy jumped well, but Larrie refused, and both Baroomgi and Nelly also stuck up their riders. Larrie was the first to get away from the fence again, but was at that time nearly a quarter of a mile behind Tommy and Spider, but he collared them, soon after passing the winning post the first time rouud. The horses kept m the same order, the second round, and at the last leap coining home Larrie was leading by about a length, and would have been an easy winner, but on passing the last flag which marked out the course, he went outside. The rider was told of his mistake instantly, and pulled, up to go round the flag. Spider, who was second, made the same mistake, but the rider did not discover the error. Tommy went the proper course and was declared the winner. Hack Hurdle Each for £2, added to a sweepstakes of 10s each ; open to all untrained horses. Half a mile, over four hurdles Mr Lee's Billy (Orbell) ' 1 Mr Young's Badger 2 Mr F Wilson's Davy 0 Mr John Thompson's Dutchman 0 The race was between Billy and Badger, the former reaching the winning post first, but having missed one hurdle, the race was run again, with the same result. A hack race for which there were six 'entries then came off, Mr Moorhouse's Tui-tui being the winner. The prize for tilting m the ring was carried off by Mr. Frank Wilson. A foot race concluded the day's sport, which altogether passed ofF most pleasantly, there not being a single fight.