THE FIRST DAY'S RACING AT GREYMOUTH.

West Coast Times, Issue 3974, 28 December 1881, Page 2

THE FIRST DAY'S RACING AT GREYMOUTH.

[Grey Riveb Akgus, December 27.]

Everything was favorable fer a good meet yesterday. The weather was delightful—and that is always a prime consideration with the general public— the course was in splendid order, and all things considered the field of horses was a very fair sample. The attendance was larger than has been seen for several years, there being not fewer than 1500 peopie. Still it could scarcely be said that the amount of interest displayed was commensurate with what might have been expected under such favorable conditions. Whether this absence of elation was due to an unusual fit of gravity on the part of the public or to the want of the usual accessories seen on racecourses — and looked for— before the passing of the Gaming and Lotteries Act, it is hard to say ; but the fact remains, and it was observed by a great many. Altogether the horses showed that care had been bestowed in getting them into a fit condition, which in itself ought ta be considered an indication that the different owners took an interest in the meet and intended to do all they could to give the people sport (or their money. And had it not been for one unfortunate and somewhat discreditable occurrence the races would have been most successful in every sense of the word. It is needless to say that the Hurdle Race fiasco is referred to. This is not the place to enter into the merits of the question : Buffice it to say that the effect upon the people was something equivalent to a colcj douche. Keen exasperation was followed by a general stampede from the course homewards, though the day was yet young and the prcgsamuie still uncompleted ; and even those who did remain were in no better humor than thO3e who had left in a fit of disgust.

The Hurdle Race— or no race, rather— was the one unsuccessful feature of the day. Tommy, Kensington (Mr Clarke's horses), and Whalebone (Mr Brimble's)

came to the scratch. A passable start was effected by Mr Jones. Tommy went off , at a very easy gallop, but Whalebone and Kensington anabled along as if the riders were having a chat. They did not alter their pace, nor take a jump, and the people concluded that it was no start, until they saw— very much to their surpriseTommy retire from the course. A rush was made to ascsrtaiu the cause, and as soon as it was known that he claimed the race a burst of indignation arose, and very decided and unfavorable opinions of some one or other — it is not certain who— were given in language vehement if not choice or polite. The lad soon after saddled up and went round the course again, but this was far from allaying the dissatisfaction. Ultimately the Stewards declared the race null and void,