MOUNT BENGER JOCKEY CLUB ANNUAL RACES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 148, 8 December 1870, Page 5

MOUNT BENGER JOCKEY CLUB ANNUAL RACES.

(By our Special Reporter.)

Of all my round of travels on account of the "T. T." the journey to the Teviot is the one I most enjoy. That is on certain conditions, such as the following : — Start in the morning at four o'clock, and arrive at the Halfway House to breakfast. By this early start, all the intermediate houses are passed, and the Halfway House is reached with a clear head, and the pocket not affected. This is a wrinkle which is now acted upon by not a few of our bagmen who travel the country. There are very few men of a social disposition who can make a business journey to the Teviot, and who have to make a call at every wayside house, who cad' arrive at their journey's end in the full enjoyment of a clear head. Everybody is glad to see you, and the first question asked is this, " What are you going to have to drink." "Well, I'll take a small sensation of P. 8." Then you have a yarn about mining matters, or the state of crops, and, as a matter of course, return "the complement, and have another small sensation, and from one sensation to another the climax is gained by the time the Teviot *is gained, and then you are more fit for bed than business. On my present trip I* tried the teetotal plan, and found it suit admirably. I neither drank Black Horse nor P. 8., and although my inside was pretty well petrified with claret and ginger pop, I kept in my senses, and neither slept in a bar, nor got into a fight.

A stranger on entering Roxburgh on Thursd.iv last would not have had niuoli <UHiv.--.ilry in guessing what Wiis on tli" boai\l. Hound the hotel doors

con ki l>e seen a group of youths rang- \ ing in years from 15 to 18 who, as they \ suppose, follow racing as a profession. Youths who are growing up (not as properly trained jockeys) without a trade, and whose racing education is not the best fitted for making them good members of society. They are co be seen on every racecourse, and take their chance of an engagement. It is very amusing to listen to -the tall talk of some of these boys — thoy have always a list of grievances against the stewards, aud everything they speak about is bloody — bloody this, and bloody that. The best place for these chickens would be some industrial school or reformatory, where they might learn to gain their bread in a more honourable way. JJut besides these so called jockeys, there was, as might be expected, an unusual stir "in Beach street, and when 1 arrived, the puntmen were busy at work crossing horses and hurdles, all apparently bound for the race-course. A word in passing may be said about the township and people of .Roxburgh. It is very snu»lv situated, aud contains a few substantial buildings and a good many others which certainly do not put forth any claim to architectural beauty. lii approaching the town, the first building which attracts the attention, is a massive stone structure which Mr Ormond is having erected, to be occupied by him as an hotel. It is large enough to meet the wants of the Teviot business for someyears hence, and I hope Mr Ormond will find it a paying speculation. "When completed, it will undoubtedly be an ornament to the township. The next buildings in importance are the Commercial Hotel and Store, the property of Mr J. BeigSiton, | whose energetic and speculative' mind is ever busy at work in forwarding the interests of the Teviot. The Assembly j Koom of the Commercial would be "a | credit to a place of much greater pre- ] tensions, The most of the other places I of business are not in keeping with j these three buildings ; indeed, they j are completely put in the shade. On j the sections lately surveyed, however, j I believe the present small tenements will soon be supphmted by others more permanent and substantial. Mrs Kidmrdson has hit. -ly built a very commodious hotel, situated in the main street in entering the township. The school house, Court house, and eh arches and neat comfortable looking dwelling houses which are springing up on every side, indicate a steady and healthy condition of mining matters and of business generally. But to the races ! Mount Benger for the last two years has been somewhat indebted for its races to the energy of Mr Ayling, but this year a Jockey Club was formed, numbering amongst its members the principal miners and business men of the Teviot. As might therefore be expected, a large sum of money was subscribed, and so far as the prizes ofiered were concerned, Coal Creek was placed in the shade. Considerable discussion vs as then raised as to the most suitable racecourse. Moa Elat was thought by some to be the most central position, but the votes went in favour of the east side of the river. A greater mistake could not have been made. While the course was perfect in every respect, its situation was entirely out of the world, and I have no doubt that accounted to some extent for the comparatively small number of people present. Instead of being an increase on former years, there was a marked falling off.

There were three refreshment booths on the ground. Mr. Ayling, of the Coal Creek Hotel, had the Grand Stand Booth ; Mr. James Woodhouse had booth No. 2, and the third was a coffee booth, under the management of Miss Gordon. If I were to judge of the trade they were doing by their countenances, I should say they were not altogether satisfied, and yet there Avas a deal of money spent in refreshments. I could not but observe the general preference given to soft stuff, and am inclined to the belief that the Teviot Total Abstinence Society has not been without its good fruits in the district. A proof of the salubrious climate of the Teviot was given by Mr. James Tamblyn, who had a hundredweight of strawberries on the ground, the whole of which he disposed of in a remarkably short space of time.

After repeated delays, which seem to be unavoidable on these occasions, preparations were made for the first race, the entries for which were as follows :—: — il/AiDFN Plate, of 20 soys. Open to all horses that had never won an advertised prize of over LlO. Distance, one mile and a-half. Williams' Hard Times- - - (Kelly) 1 Langley's Sir Charles - - - (Smith) 2 Ilendrie's Menymaid (7st. lib., declared 1911 is. over weight) - - (O'Keeffe) 3 M'Lend's Tambourine (9st. lib., declared lllbs. over) - - - (B. O'JJrien) 0 Gordon's Kerosene (7st. lib.) - (Pearson) 0 Ryan's Kitty Darling (lOst. lib., declaied 41hs. over) .... (Leary) 0 Langley's Saladin .... (Tanner) 0 Thi3 was a good race all through. They kept well together till near the finish, when Hard Times crept up and took the lead, followed by Sir Charles, who was a good second. Time, 3 minutes. Handicap, of 50 soys. Distance, two miles. The following were the entries for the race : - Cox's eh m Madam (aged, Bst. 81b.) (O'Keeffe) 1 Williams' br m Duchess (5 years, Bst 61b ) (Kelly) 2 Dwyer's eh g Skyoniar. (aged, 9s fc. 41b)

(Peters) 3 Pritchard's eh h Foretop (5 jears, lOst, 101 b.) (Goodman) 0 Andrews' b g Magenta (aged, 9st.) (Laverty) 0 Dawkins 1 eh g Excelsior (aged, lOst. 61b.) Pritchard's g g Don Pedro (aged, iOst.) Dawkins' g m Nelly Grey (aged, 9st. 61b.) Langlcy's br g Saladin (3 years, Bat.)

Excelsior and Nelly Grey were not at the meeting, and were therefore scratched, as were al.^o Don l'odro and Saladin. Foretop was the favourite in this race,and Duchess next in favour. At the fall'" of the flag, Ducheas went off 'with "the Lad, but when opposite the Judge's Stand tried to throw her rider, and thus lost a few lengths — she then took up the - running, but was soon passed by Madam r - who Avon hands down, Duchess a goodsecond, and Skyonian a bad thmL Magenta was distanced, and Foretop walked in, the latter being evidently over weighted. Time, 4m. 4sec. Handicap Tuotting R\ce, of 10 soys. Distance, three miles ; weight, 12st. The , entries for this race were M'Pherson's Brewer (200 yards) - (Hewitt) 1 Carlnw's Joe Cope (at scratch) - (Gordon) 2 Dwyer's Madge (at scratch) - - - - 0j« Cornish's Jptnimah (50 yai <ls) - (Heaps) QM Thompson'!) Borton (atscititrh) (W. O'JMeii)^i!ol| Gordon's Maid of Roxburgh (100 yards) - gO^s A discussion arose amongst the Stew^^^ as to whether it should be krcakjui&k turn, or break and pull up. Therewlgw* equal votes for both methods, and tKe|| Judge not professing to know JVlr. ' Langley's opinion was asked. That gentleman said that break and turn had been done away with years ago. Break I and pull up was therefore decided upon. At tlie word " off," a fair start was made, Brewer keeping the load throughout the race. Notwithstanding the bad start made by Joe Cope and several breaks, ho gained about 150 yards on tlie race. His trotting was much admired, but Brewer had too much of a load for him, and Avon by about 50 yards. The others were distanced. Hack Race, of 10 sows. Wile heats. Weight, lOst. The enti ies for this nice were Carlaw's Joe Cope - - - - 0 1 1 Pritchard's Fire-eater - - - - 1 0 0 Williams' Myrtle 0 0 0 Cox's Kitty Diiriing - - - - 0 0 0 Hewitt's Prince 0 0 0 This was a very well contested race. Tlie first heat was won by Fire-eater. In the second heat, four started. Joe took the I lead about the half-mile and kept it, follow ed by Fire-eater. The third heat was Joe's throughout. Fire-eater was frightfully punished, his sides being a mass -of blood.

This brought to a close the first day's racing. There was an entire absence of speculation on the course. I observed some good betting men who could not even get on a half-crown bet. Sweepstakes, ranging from 2s 6d to LI, were common enough, but little or no betting. The day kept up well. Towards evening the sky became overcast and threatened rain, but all the pleasure-seekers managed to find their way to their respective homes or hotels before the rain came on. During the night some heavy showers fell, to the delight of the cockatoos of the district, whose complaints of the drought were loud and long. The next morning brought dull weather but fair, and the

Second Day's Racing. Even greater delay was experienced in getting a start made the second day. The hurdles for the n'rst race were behind time, and it was about three o'clock before tho Hurdle Race came off. The entries for that race were — Langley's Sir Charles, lOst. 71b. ( W. O'Brien) 1 Pritchard's Don Pedro, list. 71b. (Goodman) 2 M'Leod's Tambourine, (M'Leod) - - - 0 (In the absence of duly qualified Jockeys, Mr M'Loodrodo his own horse.) This was a beautiful race between the Don and Sir Charles. The Don took the lead and kept it for a mile, followed closely by Sir Charles. At the half mile, the second round, Sir Charles made good running, and a neck and neck race ensued for some distance. After taking the last hurdle the Don again took the lead and kept it in the run home, but by some mistake on the part of the Jockey, who made him take the hurdle at the Judge's stand, Sir Charles gained ground and won by half a length. Every hurdle was taken well. Tambourine, notwithstanding his superior jockey, was nowhere. The Town Plate, of 50 soys. Distance, 3 miles ; weight for age-- was the next race on the ijrograinine. The entries were

Pritchard's Foretop, 9st. 121 b. (Goodman) 1 Dwyer's Skyonian, lOst. lib. (Peters) 2 Langley's Saladin, Cst. 51b. (Pearson) 3 At the start, Saladin threw his rider, who turned a complete somersault. Foretop took the lead, and had the race his own way, winning in a canter. L.vnips' Purse of 20 soys. Distance, two miles ; welter weights. Pritchard's Don Pedro, 12st. 7ib. (M'Pherson) 1 Langley's Sir Charles, 12st. (Hewitt) - - 2 Langley's Nancy, 12st. - o The Don was one length a-head in passing the Judge's stand the first time. The second round Sir Charles gained upon him, but again lost ground at the straight, the Don winning by about two lengths, hands down. Nancy was put in to make up the race. Consolation Handicap of 10 soys., for all ceuten horses. Distance, one mile, tor this race there were three entries— William's Duchess, list. 81b. - . . i Hewitt's Myrtle, 6st. 101 b. - - - - 2 Dwyer's Skyonian, 7st. 101 b. - . - o Duchess won this race easy, Myrtle coming in a good second. A Hurry Scurry, with subscriptions and entrance money added, for 9 soys, was then got up. Several horses were entered. Mr Trice's bay filly, Beeswing, being the winner. Thus was brought to a close the Mount Benger races. Ihere was not so much excitement during the second day's racing, chiefly owing, I presume, to the fact that the owners cf local horses were afraid to enter their steeds against the superior blood from a distance. In conclusion, I would recommend the Mount Benger Jockey Club on a future occasion to make the races more of a local character, and not allow outsiders with whom they cannot compete, to take all the money out of the district. The Judge and stewards deserve the thanks of the Committee for the orderly manner in which the meeting was conducted.