WAIMATE STEEPLECHASES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1479, 18 June 1879, Page 6

WAIMATE STEEPLECHASES.

Stewards : Hon. R. Campbell, Messrs R. M'Owen, N. Fleming, A. Turnbull, Donald M'Lean, Studholme, Sherwin, G. Lovegrove, and J. Dooley. Judge : Mr M. Studhclme. Handicappers : Messrs M. Studholme and M. Sherwin. Starter : Mr G. Lovegrove. Olerk of Scales :Mr M. Mitten. Clerk of Course : Mr G. R. Freeman. Tbe Waimate Steeplechase Meeting was held on June 11, the weather being fine, but cold and bracing. In previous years the Course was m the neighborhood of Willow Bridge, Bituated some distance south of the Waimate Junction, and between the railway line and the sea. Tbis. year, howerer, owing

to the great inconven ence people were put to anew ono was laid out atthe southern end of the bush. und. r the hill behind the Wuimute township, the ground having bee;, kindly lent for the occusi. <n by Mr Studholnie, lo whom it belongs The Course itself, and the whole of its surrounding*, were decidedly rough. The Grand Stand had been ereoted by the kind hand of Nature, and was nothing more nor less than a steep hill, ovegrown with fLx and tussocks, intersected by ths dry beds of winter torrents, and liberally metalled with big stones. Amongst the flii bushes the principal booth was erected, while the scales and other necessary appurtenances were fixed m a narrow water-course, on the steep, tussocky banks of which the Secretary, Clerk of the Scales, and other officials sat dangl ng their legs while entries w re being received or j ickeys weighed out. A space on the slope of the mountain side had had thc stones, fiax and grass cleared off, so as to provide a fair run m to the winning post, and it on'y rested with the horses themselves lo accommodate the length of their legs to tho angle of the bill. The rest of the Courße lay over evm paildocks, divided by stiff gorse, aod and ditch, or po-t and rail fences. The water jump was a -natural one, and waß calculated lo test the merits of tbe best stock hor.-e m the district ; for, for v considerable distance before it was reached a dense flax swamp had to be ridden through, thero being no clear ground m its neighborhood. All this primitireness, however, only added to the pleasant ness of the proceedings, and enjoyment pure and flimple was the order of the day. lhe attendance of spectators was smaller than on previous occasions, but this was no doubt owing to bo many persons being obliged to attend the sittings of tho Supreme Courl at Timaru, nnd it is to be regretted lhat the promoters of the Stceplechnses did not see their way to arrange for the meeting being held on some other day. However, those who , were preßent proved a host m themselves, and did all Ihey culd to make matters lively. Several free fight* took place, m wliich not a few persons were badly hustled, and m which the coiubutanls wen- very rough on the policemen who interfered. The horse of one mounted constable wjb seized by the toil and dragged bodily down tbe hill for some distance, while on another occasion a policeman who tried to do his duty was landed m a flux-bush. On the whole, though, tho proceedings wera productive of a great deal of . real, genuine amusement, and though the fun at times waxed decidedly furious, no harm wus dono to anybody. The racing was certainly above tho average, and, with the exception of the Maiden Plate, , m which Silverstream went the whole round . of tbe Course while the other horses were floundering amongst the flax on tbo wrong [ sido of the water iump, tho eventß were well contested, and somo splendid steeplechasing took place. Tho Agent again proved himself to be one of the grandest fencers m the colony. Naumai, an almost unknown horse, ran remarkably well, although he had not tbe . fori une to pull off a race. Sunrise, another stranger, showed up well m the Steeplechaso Handicap, and would have stood a good i ehanco of earning large stakes, had he no} i thrown his rider. In tbe Consolation he over jumped himself when coming to a dry creek, , and had the misfortune to break ids back, but . bis jockey escaped without injury. Pakeha . did nothing, though he promised to perform v ; great deal. Lone JHand rau well and pluckily, . and so did Harkaway and Loe). Lomond. , Before proceeding to a detuilod description ■ of the different, events, wo may be allowed to i express an opinion that the new Courso is decidedly more convenient, both to Waimate I and outside people, than the old one, and it , only needs to have a bettor run m and some of tho flax and slones remove a, to mako it nil that could be desired. The hill behind forms a natural Grand Stand m itself, . nnd by a vory small expenditure of money, [• oould be rendered fit for all purposes. Another little matter — a purely personul one — which , we would take tho liberty of touching upon, is , the manner ia which the representatives ol tho Press ate treated. >'o courtesy whatever is extended to them, and they are only admitted at the gales on payment of on exorbi- > tunt Bum. Perhaps, though, the Waimate . Steeplechase Club are not acquainted with the ordinary rulea of etiquette bo far as the t PreßS are concerned, and consider they should [ pay for tho privilege of reporting Buch , meetings. , We will now give a description of the i ve-rious events : — t Waimate Steeplechase Handicap, of £100 t with a sweep of 5 bovb ; second horse to , receive 15 aovs out of stake. Nomination, 2 soys : acceptance, 2 soys. Dislance 3 miles. \ Mi- P. Butler's o g The Agent, syrß, 12st71b (Hankins) 1 Mr P. Murtagh's o g Harkaway Gyrs, 10st31b (Owner) 2 > Mr C. Goodman's b g Ivanhoe, aged, lOst 121 b (Joyce) 3 Mr Mclvor's Loch Lomond, Mr Muir's , Lone Hand, Mr Mait'and's Loyalty, Mr > Markoy's The Lad, Mr Keith's Sunrise, and , Mr Ravenhill's Pakeha also started ; Silverstream being scratched. Betting : Even money on The Agent, 2 to . 1 Loch Lomond and Ivanhoo, 3 to 1 Silverstream and Lone Hand, 4 and 5 to 1 any L other. ' ' j Thc lot wero sent away to a good Btart.* I Sunrise was the first to tako the lend, and led I over the hurdle, /t gent and Harkaway being , close up, tho rest fol'.owing m a c'uater. Tho , three leaders got well over the first sod fence, \ but Loyalty and Lone Hand refused it . Agent then increased his pace, and L ran into first place, Harkaway being , a good thiid. This order was maintained till the Stand was passed, Agent. , having increased his lead. The second jump past tho Sand was declined by Agent, and tbis enabled Sunrise to once more appear m front, fle did not, however, maintain his position long,- for ho threw his rider at tbe j second double, and was n)t caught till after j tho race was won. From this time Agent had , it all his own way, nnd, though he I baulked onoe and was pushed by Harkaway ! across the pnddocks, he eventually won by t twelve lengths. None of the field but Agent, . Harkaway, und Ivanhoo negotiated the second ! double m tho last round. Ivanhoe came m about len lengths behind Hurkuway. | Maiden Plate, of £50; entrance, £5; weight h f>r nge ; eecond horse to save his stakes. Distance, 2 miles. , Mr T. Lyford's g g Silverstream, 6yrs, , 12st31b (Lyford) 1 | Mr J. Culling'a b g Naumai, 4yrs, list (Armstrong) 2 Mr P. Murtagh's blk g Black Prince, 6 yrs, , 12st 31b (Owner) 3 , Mr Mclvor's Loch Lomond and Mr ! Markey's The Lad also ran. Sunrise was . scratched. The betting was about even noney, Silver- , stream and Loch Lomond being somewhat fancied. This was one of the most extraordinary races wo ever witnessed, and caUß^d no er.d of ix- , citement and amusement. The etart took ! place m a paddock right opposite the stand, and all five horses kept m close company ! over the gorse hedgn and through the flax. On the water jump being reached, Silverßtream was the only one who took : it, tho others al refusing it moat persistently. Silverstream continued on his way, and after baulking at the first hurdle past the stand, and at a cod fence afterwards, finally gave all his companions a leod over the water-jump, where thoy had stuck while he had completed tho round of the course. He, of course, won, hands down, but a capital race round for Becond nlace ensued between Naumai Bnd Black Prince. The latter was the first to get over the water-jump, after the grey bad shown the way twice, ond led for second till reaching the second double near the willows, which he refused. Naumai then came up, and took the double without hesitation, keeping the lead Lv some distance. The positions of the two horßes were twice reversed during tbe rest of the race, but Naumai eventually caught the Judge's eye eeveral miuutes before Black Prince. Waimate Steepleohase Cup, of £75; entrance, £5 ; second horse to save his stake. Distance, 2i miles. Mr P. Butler's c g Tbe Agent, syre, H«tl2lb (Hankins) 1 , Mr J. Culhng's b g Naumai, 4yrs, list (Armstrong) 2 Mr H. Muir's b g Lone Hand, aged, 12st31bs (Hedge) 2 < Mr Mclvor's Loch Lomond also ran. Betting— 2 to 1 Agent; 4to 1 any other. i The lot were sent away m a good line, but ( Agent soon took the lead, going over the first t doable m grand style, and closely followed by i

L: eh Lomond, Niumai, and Lone Hand iv the oHer named. The lot sniled awayover everything, but gradually strangling out, until the water jump was r. ached. The Agent baulked at tbis, and Looh Lomond and Black r'rince followed suit. The former took it on being put at it the second time and was we 1 seconded by Lone Hand, who thus obtained second place. Naumai got over ufter some hard whipping, but Loch Lomond obstinately refused to try it. Loneband baulked at the first sod fence paßt the Stand, and Naumai, who had closed up, got tho lead of him. The former, however, shortly overhauled Naumai again by bird racing. During the next half mile both hoises baulked at several fences, first one and then the other holding second plaoe. In themeanlimc Agent had heon increasing his lead, and after negotiating the water jump m grand ftyle, won easily. Naumai alss took it without hesitation, while Lone Hand declined it for some time, and thus had to be content with n third place. Consolation Steeplechase Handicap, of £10. Nomination, 2 soys; acceptance, 1 soy. Distance, 2 miles. Mr R. Mclvor's Loch Lomond, 12st (Owner) 1 Mr W. Mailland'a Loyalty, list (4rmstrong) 2 Mr C. Goodman's Ivuuhoe, 12st 71bs (Joyce) 3 Harkaway, Sunrise, The Lad, and Pakeha also ran. Directly the flag fell, Pakeha rushed to tho front, but only maintained his lead to the water jump, which ho refused. Ivanhoe was the first to clear it, but Loch Lomond soon nlt-r passed him, and Loyalty was not long m running into second place, lhe others followed m straggling order for some distance. On coming near tho second double, Sunrise, m a'tempting to jump a dry creek, fell and broke his back, but his rider (Keith) escaped without hurt. During the la ter part of the race Harkaway made a hard struggle to get to tlie front, but was unsuccessful, Loch Lomond being landed a winner over Loyalty by several lengths, wilh Ivanhoa a good third. This brought a very pleasant day'B racing to a close and tho spectators lost no time m making the best of their way homewards. Wo may menl ion tbat special train arrangements had been made for the occasion by Mr Jonee, District Station Master, but owing, as already stated, to tho Supreme Court sitting, few peoplo from Timaru were enabled to avail themselves of them.