QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY RACES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 625, 25 May 1870, Page 2

QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY RACES.

■ ... ♦ — — — Tuesday, May- 24. : Stewards— W..H. Wynn Williams, F. W. Delamain, JR. M. Morten, and L. G. Cole, Esqs. Judge, and clerk of the scales— R. Hustler, Esq. Starter— G. Willmer, Esq. Clerk o£ the course— Mr E. W. Millett. jC The Jockey Club deserve great credit for tne manner in which, at every reasonable opportunity, they promote the public enjoyment. Holidays have been proverbial for their dulness in .Christohurch, but, thanks to this association of sportsmen, a good day's racing is now often provided. Of the extra meetings, that of yesterday claims its full share of credflT? the racing being fairly good, the arrangements perfect, and the attendance good. The fine weather, no doubt, influenced the latter to a considerable extent and added materially to the general enjoyment. The morning was beautifully fine and clear, and, although about two o'clock a few heavy clouds formed overhead, no rain fell, and the atmosphere was comparatively warm for the time of the year. The exodus from Christchurch was again chiefly by train, but some few vehicles turned out, and, when recruited on the ground by the country arrivals, formed a good secondary force. Of the four-wheelers, two coaches, owned respectively by Messrs Mitchell, Burton, and Co. and Mr W. Hansom were the most conspicuous, the former being drawn by six horses. The sporting games were fairly represented and patronised. The two refreshment booths • — Golden Fleece Hotel and Mr Gee confectioner— did a fine trade, the former being crowded by customers during the racing intervals. The Grand Stand was much better attended in the body than was expected — reduced prices, no doubt, being the cause— but the top was almost equally the reverse. All the proceedings passed off well and gave general satisfaction. The races, with the exception of the Hurdle and Birthday Handicaps, were only mere hack race?, got up solely for the citizens of Christchurch and neighbourhood. The Hurdle Race brought out four moderate nags, and in spite of the prestige of Webb's stable, who thought it a certainty for Medora, she was beaten cleverly by Sir Tatton, a new candidate for jumping honours. The Birthday Handicap, proved the certainty it appeared, as soon as the weights were out, for Atlas after his recent running ia Dunedin ; Old Backbiter, who went short in his preliminary, not being able to give away the weight ; Bobby Burns, who was fancied by a select few of the Talent, cutting up as he has done in every race this year, and we fear his day is over, which we regret for his clever trainer's sake. The other races need no comment, from us, and we only hope on another Queen's Birthday to see a better day's sport. Handicap Hubdle Race, of £3 each, with £30 added. Distance, 2 miles, over eight flights of hurdles. Mr S. Garforth's eh g Sir Tatton, 5 yrs, . ' carried lOst 3lbs ... (W. Kraft) 1 Mr W. C. Webb's b f Medora, 4 yrs, lOst (R. Reay) 2 Mr Beecher's b g: Cameron, aged, lOst 12lbs ... ... ... (F. Dillon) 3 Mr Marchant's br g Merrimac, aged, list slbs ... (J. Spinks) 0 Betting 6 to 4 against Medora, and 3 to 1 against; any other.J^A first-rate start, all the horses pulling very hard up to the first hurdle, over which Merrimac came first, breaking the top rail ; Sir Tatton and Medora landing nearly level, and Cameron falling a burster, throwing his rider heavily, he was however re-caught by the bystanders «and speedily remounted*/ Merrimac led to the second hurdlej which he refused, and at the second attempt fell and got away from his rider; from this point the race was entirely confined to Sir ~ Tatton" and Medora; Cameron, who jumped the remaining hurdles splendidly, never afterwards having a chance ; Sir Tatton, who came away .after jumping the last hurdle, winning very cleverly by two lengths • Cameron, who made up a lot of lost ground, a bad third. Hack' Hobdle Race, of-' XI each, with £10 added;, .Distance, 1 mile, over four flights of hurdles. Catch weights. Post entries. Mr Marchant'B bk g Black Doctor, aged, (Ist heat, J. Spinks ; 2nd, H. Prince) fl Mr Mcllraith's b g Lunatic, agea, .. ..';:.' ■/.■■■: (Owner) f 2 Mr Henderson's b g Sydney, aged (F. Dillon) 3 Mr W. C, Webb's gr g Chanticleer, 5 yrs, • :■':, -" : ; /•'", . ..;. (R. Kay) 0 Mr Culliford's b g Pilgrim, aged ... ... 0 Mr Delamain's br h. Young Camden, 5 yrs (Sturgeon) 0 No betting that we heard. Young Camden, with Black Doctor close at his shoulder, led to the last hurdle, when the former refused, the rest getting well over, when a most exciting race occurred, Black Doctor and Lunatic running a dead heat. 2ud Heat.— Black Doctor the favourite. The two came, away well together until over the last hurdle, when it was evident that Black Doctor must win, the difference in weight; being, so much in his favour, and he came away and won cleverly by two lengths. Tbe Bihxhdat Handicap, of £3 each, with • £60 added. Distance, 1J miles. Mr R. M. Morten's b g Atlas, 5 yrs, Bst. . 21b3 (J. Hills) 1 Mr W. Parish's br m Blink Bonny, 5 yrs, 7stßlbs. ... ... (Richards) 2 Mr S. Garforth's bk g Backbiter, 6 yre, lOst 6lbs (W. Kraft) 3 Mr W. C. Webb's eh g Bobby Burns, 4 yrs, Bstllb. (Joyce) 0 Mr S. Garforth's eh g Sir Tatton, 5 yrs,

6st lOlbs. , (Rogers) 0 Mr W. Lunn'a gr f Seagull, 4 yrs, 6st Blbs ... (H. Lunn) 0 Mr F. W. Delamain's br g Arundel, 3 yrs, 6st 2lbs (E. Haskins) 0 Mr Cleveland's gr g Mousetrap, 3 yrs, 6st lOlbs ... (C. Storey) 0 Betting : 6 to 4 agsb Atlas, 2 to 1 agst Backbiter, and 3 to 1 agst Bobby Burns. We heard nothing else backed. After one false start, in which Mousetrap broke his bridle and got away from his rider, the lot got away to a pretty fair start, Arundel leading, the rest, with the exception of BRckbiter — against whom loud shouts were raised that he wns beaten — being well together. They kept this order until into the straight, where Arundel retired, and Atlas, coming on at his leisure, won very easily by two lengths, Blink Bonny, who was evidently wanting in condition, beating Backbser by about a length and a half. Bobby Burns, who was not ridden out, just beat Sir Tatton by a neck, Seagull a Very bad sixth, and Arundel beaten a long way. A Butchers' Purse, of £1 each, with £5 '"•■ added, for horses bona fide the property of butchers or their men, and which hare been in their possession for one month previous to the race?! No weight under 9st, and to be ridderi"~Tsy butchers or their men. Distance, 1 mile. Post entries.

%This race created great excitement, and was won by Quickstep; but a protest was entered against him as having run at several district races as Trojan, add it being proved to the satisfaction of the Stewards that such was^the case, he was Very properly disqualifiejTaf Jack, who ran second, came into collisisn"*with another horse in his preliminary canter, and his jockey was seriously injured ; his owner then put up a professional, and thus lost the race, it being given strictly according to the conditions to Mr Gunnell's Jennjjrj A Farmers' Hack Race, of £1 each, with £5 added, for horses bond, fide the property of Farmers, have never won a race, and have been in tbeir possession two months previous to the race. No weight under lOst. Distance, 1 mile. Post entries. Mr W. Parish's b m Selina 1 Mr F. G. Holmes's b g Young King ... 2 Mr Bamford'a b g Kiwi ... 0 Mr Enderson'sbg Sydney... ... ... 0 Mr Lunn's b g Alpenstock 0 Mr Eogers's gr m Creeping Jane... ... 0 Mr C. Dunford's b m Beeswing ... ... 0 Mr W. Perry's br m Nelly 0 Mr Gillespie's eh m Maggie ... ... 0 Mr Culliford's eh g Bob 0 This was a very amusing race, and was won cleverly by Mr Parish's mare ; nothing near the first two. A protest was entered -against the winner, but was disallowed. Consolation Stakes, of £2 each, with £15 added. Distance, 1 mile. Mr Parish's br m Blink Bonny, 5 yrs, 9 st ... (R. Reay) 1 Mr Cleveland's gr g Mousetrap, 3 yrs, 7st 3lbs ... ... (Storey) 0 Mr Delamain's b g Arundel, 3 yrs, 6st 9lbs ... (Haskins) 0 Betting : Even on Blink Bonny. ■ Arundel | led till fairly in the straight, where the three closed, and loud shouts were raised in favour of Mousetrap, but when inside the rails Bob Reay brought up Blink, and she won by a short length ; a dead heat for second place. This brought to a conclusion a very pleasant and amusing day's racing, and we feel sure all returned home well satisfied with the day's sport. The settling will take place at Tattersall's on Thursday.

Mr A. McDonald's eh g Quickstep, aged ... 1 Mr B. Shadbolt's b g Jack, aged 2 Mr T. Gunnell's eh g Jenny 3 Mr Lane's b g Tommy ... 4 Mr Tetley's b m Miss Faithful 0 Mr Judge's b g Bob » 0 Mr Judge's eh m Miss King 0 Mr Culliford w g Pilgrim ... 0 Mr J. Dealing's b m Pepgy ... ... 0 Mr Bossiter's b g Mischief ... 0 Mr G. Ball's b g Jack 0 Mr Sharp's b m Jessie 0