FAIRLIE CREEK RACES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3298, 23 April 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

FAIRLIE CREEK RACES.

President — James Milne. "Vice-President — J. Gall. Stewards — Messrs J. S. Rutherford, Hamilton, Keay, Struthers, Goodwin, Wederell, McLean, Inman, Qilmour, Dixon, McGregor, Winter, Meikle, Allan, Alvea, Parker, Clawson, Caskey ODd Richardson. Judge— J. W. Gray. Clerk of Scales— Wm. Close. Clerk of" Courso —S. R. Dixon. Starter— J. Stansell. Handicapper — G. C. Miles. Treasurer —H. Struthors. Hon. Secretary — Tlios. Caskey. The annual race meeting under the auspices of the Fnirlio Creok Racing Club was held on April G, on the Club's new course, which is situated about a mile to the back of the township. The running track, which is about three-quarters of a mile round, was a few months ago ploughed and laid down in grass, and now presents a very fine appearance. j The arrangements made by the Club for ' the comfort of the visitors and others were admirable. A very comfortable tent was erected as a dressing tent, and a saddling paddock was carefully ropod off, ■which proved of great convenience to those having anything to do with the horses. Mr A. O. Gilmour, of tho Gladstone Grand Hotel, Fairlie Creek, had a licensed booth on the ground, and Mr Phillips a refreshment booth, which seemed to bo well patronised by the numbers of people congregated round them. Messrs Mason and Roberts had one of their totalisators on the ground and passed a largo sum of money through it. Three other gentlemen of that genus generally to be found on a racecourse or such like, wero present with a like number of shooting galleries and were kept busy, as likewise was another gentleman with nn " Aunt Sally." The meeting passed off very successfully, the finest of weather prevailing during the day. The officers of the Club are to be complimented on the very efficient way the arrangements were carried out, and also for the smartness with which the races were run off, every race being started sharp to time. There wns quite a large attendance of the public, at one time fully five hundred being on the ground. A large number of visitors went up by the morning train from Timam, and, as a matter of course, the country folk turned out in full force, if only to meet old friends and give the hearty liand-shakc which tightens the bonds of. friendship, and talk of Aiild-lang-syne. Tho racing on the whole was very good, some of the finishes being very close, and the winner in every instance, especially if one of the favorites, was most lustily cheered. There was only one accident on the ground, which happily was " not a serious one, otherwise there was nothing to mar the day's amusement. We must not omit to mention tho St. Patrick's Brass Band wont up to tho Creek by tho first train and played some of their stirring tunes during the meeting. Their excellent music was very much appreciated by all, and it added not a little to the enjoyment of those present. Before drawing this to a close wo must thank tho Hon. Secretary, Mr Thomas Caskey, and the other officers of the Club for their kindness and courtesy in affording all the information in their power to our representative.

The following are the results :— Handicap Hurdles, of 20 sovs ; second ' horse to rcccivo 3 sovs from the stakes. 2 miles. Mr W. Allan's g g Sultan, aged, 9st 71b (Burgess) 1 Messrs M. and C. Hobba' b m Shadow,

aged, lOst 21b (Hoskins) 2 Messrs M. and C. Hobbs' Moody, and Mr H. McLean's Sweet William, were scratched.

The two horses went off to a good start, Shadow nt once taking tho lead ; but she had not gone far before Sultan was leading, and increasing his lead nt every stride. At the back of the course he was leading by fully a dozen lengths, but on passing the Judge's post the mare was only about a length behind. They took the next hurdle together, and kept in close company till clearing the last hurdle when Burgess brought Sultan home with a rush, winning by three longths. Totalisator — 87 subscribers, 34 on the winner, dividend £1 2s. Maiden, av.f.a., of 15 sovs. 1& miles. Mr R. Agnew's b g Unit, uged, 9st 31b (Dunn) 1 Mr H. McLean's blk m Otter, agec!9st lib (Kerr) 2 Mi- F. Fielding's ch m Twilight, 4yrß, Bst 101b ... ... (Blackmore) 3 Mr D. Mackay's Caledon also ran. After two false starts they were got off, Unit taking tho lead, but Twilight coming up to tho gelding they raced round neck and neck. When close to the finish Unit drew away, and Otter wrested second place from Twilight. From then to the finish Unit had it all his own wny, winning easily by six lengths. There were 139 subscribers in the totalisator, 69 on the winner, dividend 18s. Hack Race, of 10 sovs j in heats ; once round the course. Mr Kerr's Spider ... ... (Kerr) 1 Mr Close's Tho Pony ... (C. Wederell) 2 Mr Wilson's Fanny . . . (Blackmore) 3 Four other horses started. This was a most exciting race throughout, the placed horses keeping well together all round. Getting well into the home run, Spider went through and won a well-contested raco by a head amid the greatest excitement, Fanny lying about half a length oil third. In the totalisator there wero 104 subscribers, 9on the winner, dividend £5 4a. ,

FaibiilE Cheek Cup, of 35 bovs ; second hoi-se to receive 5 sovs from tho stakes. 2 miles. Mr H. McLean's ch g Sweet William, 4yrs, Bst2lb ... (Kerr) 1 Mr W. Burgess' b g Jackdaw, aged, 9st 3lb (Owner) 2 Messrs M. and C. Hobbs' Hinerua, 6yrs,

ost2lb ... ... (Blackmoro) 3 Messrs M. and C. Hobba' Moody was soratclied.

, Sweet William had if anything the beat of (he running, although passed twice by Hinerua.who never succcoded in' keeping her lead long. Wjieu about half, a mde from home Sweet William begau to increase his pace at every stride, und gradually drew away from the other pair, eventually winning by a length. This race was a very popular one, young Kerr being very loudly cheered when he weighed in. Totalisator— ls9 subscribers, 36 on the winner, dividend £1 19s. Hack. Race j second heat. Mr Wilson's Fanny ... ... ... 1 Mr Closo's Tho Pony / 2 MrFedden's Seven Bells ... 3 Tho horses were got away to a good; start, Seven Bells taking the load. Coming into the straight, Fanny came away from the field and won by a bare length. There were 52 subscribers iu the totalisator, 9on the winner ; dividend £2 12s. Hack HubdliES, of 10 bovs ; no weight : undor lOst 71b. 1£ miles. Mr Bain's Snowdrift ... (HoskinsJ 1 Mr Kerr's Benetta A\ ... (Kerr) 2 MrStonley'B Gray Kate and Mr SnushalFs General Gordon also started. General Gordon bolted at tho start, but his rider managed to keop him under control, andihold;the lead. • When nearing the Jiurdle in the straight, Gray Kate ran off tho tracky and > thereby , put herself out : of the race. General . Gordon rau full tilt at the next hurdle, and came down, falling oh the' top of his rider and then rolling orer him. Meiean

picked himself up quickly, not having received more than a few bruises and a severe shaking. Snowdrift, who was six or eight lengths ahead of Benettn, now had the race all to herself, winning easily in a canter. There were 96 subscribers in the totalisator, 43 on the winner ; dividend £1.

Easter Handicap, of 20 sovs ; second horse to receive 3 sovs from the stakes. One mile. Mr McLean's Sweet William, 4yrs, Bst, (Kerr) 1 Messrs M. and C. Hobbs' Hincrua, 6yvs,

9st3lb (Blackmore) 2 Mr McMillan's Jenny Linn, aged, 7st> 81b (0. Wederell) 3 Mr Burgess' Sealtheen and Jackdaw also ran.

Soon after starting Sweet William took the lead, and won easily, a clear length separating the second and third horses.

In the totalisator there were 116 subscribers, 34 on the winner, dividend £1 10s. Consolation Race. 1 mile. Mr McLean's Otter, 7et 71b ... (Kerr) 1 Mr Fielding's Twilight, Bst 31b (C. Wederell) 2 MrW. Burgess' Scaltheen, Bst (Owner) 3 The field kept well together till coming to the straight, when Otter came through with a rush, and won comfortably. In the totalisator there were 83 subscribers, 7 on the winner, dividend — £4 Is 9d. Spider and Fanny ran off the final heat of the Hack race for first place, Spider winning easily. (By Tklegeai'h.)