GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE MEETING.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 12 August 1908, Page 5

GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE MEETING.

OPENING DAY.

(Per Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, August 11. Tba Grand National Steeplechase Meeting opened at Riccarton to-day in fino weather and with a largo attendance. The courso was in capital ■ order, and the racing generally was very interesting, tho contest for the Steeplechase boing one of the best ever witnessed. There were some spills during tho da}', but none of them were serious. . Tho totalizator investments amounted to £18,666,- against £21,555 last year, but against this decrease are tho ices l'roin bookmakers, of whom 20 were licensed inside and 43 outside, llesults:—

Hunters' Hurdles.—Audax 1 3 Leonardo 2. Black Friar 3. Also gtai"ted— Casabianca, Destroyer, Wee McGregor, Dreamy Daniel, Circus Girl, Wahine, Janella; Ben Fortune, and Tliundorr storm. Won eaaily by two lengths. Time, 3.3.

Trial Hurdle Handicap.—Scotty 1, Top Eosa 2, Stormont 3. Also started— Ghc-orka, Snip, Whatakura, and Grosvonor. Won by two lengths. Time, 3.20 2-5.

Winter Cup.—Penates 1, Motoa 2, Swimming Bolt 3. Also started—ltupulite. All Red, Cross Battery, Sir Frisco, Wailethe, Armamento, Maid of Astolat, North Head, Probable, Golden Cairn, Harvest, Field Gun, Simplex, White Cockade, Landwern, Maharanui, Rose Noble, Cliicane, Lone Star, and Don Orsino. Mot-oa led into the straight, but Penates put in a great run inside tho distance, and won by half a head. Time nob telegraphed. Grand National Steeplechase Handicap, of 1000 soys; 3£ miles. —Eurus, 10.2, 1; Lo Beau, 10.1, 2; Gold Seal, 9.7,- 3. Also started —Kiatere, Loch Fyne, Nadador, Tilson, Pierre, Starlight, Albury, and Storm. Loch Fyne, Pierre, Nadador, Starlight, Storm, and Kiatere fell. Eurus was. on terms approaching tho la&t jump, and in the run home drew away and won by two and a half lengths,- Gold Seal three lengths away, and Albury- fourth. Time, 7.24 4-5.

Tally-ho Plate Stoeplechasc—Zenda 1, Beerpulki' 2, Brown Hill 3. Also started—High Peak and Selatiin. Zenda and Beerpuller were the billy two to get round without mishap, and the former won," pulling up, by 50 yards. Brown' Hill, who fell at the second last fence,.-was remounted and finished third. Time, 5.36 4-5.. Jumpers' Flat Race /Handicap.— Monkey Puzzle 1, Paritutu 2, Pretty Maid 3. Also started—Stronghold, Sen Sim, Leeside, 'Mussel, Compass, Southern Cross, and Tessera* Won by half a length. Time, 2.41. Eiifield Steeplechase Handicap.—Pilot 1, Doerslayer 2, Valima 3. ■ Also start-ed—-Canton,' Zither, Lingerer, Mooshen, Rose Mom, EldoradOj Casabianca, ; and Pacific.' Rase Morn,. Eldorado, Mooshen, and Canton fell. AVon easily. Tinie, 4.5 1-5. -

Hack Handicap.—^Helianthus 1, Farley Grovo 2, Truthful 3. Also stai-ted: Siik\vel>, Nancy .Stair, Assault, Brase\ioE«>, Bea Dog, Rescued,. Cannonier, Love W^e^'' Cavatlna, Northern Star, Red King, and Thyrsus. "Won easily. Time, 1.16 4-5.