QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY RACES.

Western Star, Issue 352, 26 May 1880, Page 2

QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY RACES.

Judge, Mr H. Hirst; Starter, Mr D. Murchie ; Handicapper, Mr H. Howells; Clerk of the Course, Mr E. Newton. This event came off in a paddock belonging to Mr J. Calder, near the Farmers' Association Grounds, on Monday, and was a great success in every respect. During the latter end of last week the weather whs 3uch as to threaten, if it continued, to destroy any chance of a fair day's sport; but all anxiety on this account was dispelled on "Monday, when the weather turned out most suitable. In consequence, there was a large attendance of visitors from all parts of Southland, Invercargill alone contributing somefive or six hundred. It is estimated that not fewer than from ten to twelve hundred people visited the ground. This cannot be looked upon as other than most satisfactory, and should act as an incentive to the permanent establishment of a local Jockey Club,, uuder whose auspices two meetings a ye.ir could be successfully carried out. On the ground Mr M. Shields, of the Wallace County Hotel, had a booths and he and his assistants were kept busy from an early hour until dark dispensing refreshments. The only other stall was that of Mr Boivine, whose stock of fruit aud pastry was completely exhausted by the time the races were over. The famous totalisator was represented, but either from a want of the needful, or a doubt on the mind of the publie as to its being " square," but little, business was done. One of tho " fraternity," however, who had a machine similar in principle to a wheel of fortune, was patronised extensively. The only other feature on the course that approached gambling was the large number of private sweepstakes that were got up, but this mild form of dissipation acted only as a safety valve against other and more objectionable forms of gambling. With the exception of the case of one belligerent individual, who tried hard to induce somo one to " tread on the tail of his coat,'' good order prevailed throughout the d:\y. To tho vigilance of Sergeant JS'icklo and his assistant constable this result-is due. as immediately on the slightest manifestation of a row.

the timely interference of these officers quelled any such attempt. The course was a good one and in Yery fair condition, the fine bed of grass preventing mud congregating. The entries for the various event!) were numerous. The only incident of a disagreeable nature that happened during the" day was an accident to Mr W. Henley, ■who, after Hornpipe and Bothwell had passed the post in the run home for the Hospital Race, ventured too far on the course, and Atlas coming up, caught him on'the shoulder and violently knocked him down. When picked up he was quite insensible, and remained so until late in the evening, when he gradually recovered consciousness. The extent of his injuries have not yet been exactly ascertained, but it is hoped they are not serious. He was taken to the Hospital and attended to. Shortly after one o'clock the first race was got off, and with commendable expedition the horses were sent away on the various other events. Appended is a list of the performances: —

HttbdliK Bach, of 20 sovs. Distance, 2 miles, over 8 flights of hurdles 3ft 6in. list up. MrJas. Bonar's Bothwell ... (Pollock) 1 Mr Ja3. Henderson's May Day {&. Smith) 2 Mr John Smith's "Wniau ".. (Owner) 3

Bride and Charlie were scratched. At the start Bothwell had a slight advantage, May Day and Waiau being about a length behind. The three oleared the first hurdle in the order named, which was maintained to the finish. May Day managed once or twice to get on Bothwell's quarters, but the latter forged ahead and won as he liked. Maiden Plate, tif IS sovs., for horses that have never won public money. Distance, 1J mile. Weight for age. Mr D. Brenohley's Hastings, Bst (Mason) 1 Mr M. Hayes' Paddy, 9st 21b ... (Steel) 2 Mr Ch'asv Wyett's Mulatto, Bst... (Sexton) 3 Mr K. Anderson's Darkey, 9sfc 21b ... 0 Mr Jas. Henderson's Little Bobby, 9st ... 0 Mr Wpj. Ward's Stormbird, 3st 111 b ... 0 Mr Mitrchie got thei horses away to a very fair start, except Millatto, whose rider seemed to be taken by surprise, and in consequence lost son:e ground. He soon made this up, however, but the effort spoilt his chance of the race. Paddy maintained the lead till opposite the winning post the last time round, when Hastings, who had evidently been kept in reserve, answered well to the call, and collared Paddy. Here a neck-and-neck struggle ensued between the two chestnuts till entering the straight, when- the want of bottom and training: told on Paddy, and Hastings passed the judge a couple of lengths in advance. Considerable ' surprise ' was evinced at the game performance of PadHy, who had only been in the stable for two weeks, jHid the opinion was general that with a little more hard feed be would have collared the prize. Tboxtin<j .Race (Distance Handicap), of 10 . - toys. Distance, 3 miles. lOnt up. Mr Jones' - General Grant, , 150. yds, (G; Smith)' 1 Mr Horr's Gipsy, 400 yds... (M'Kenzie) 2 Mr Anderson's. Fool, scratch:-(Mortimer) 3 Mr Murchic's Queen of Hearts, 200 yds: ' f *> ' ' (Hamlyn) 0 This event 'caused ''considerable interest. The positions of the; horses were not changed until the second; time round, when Gipsy was collared by the Generul. It was soon evident that the contest ''lay between the General aad the Fpoi,., but; the-.latter at the finish did not come within 100 yards of the winner. . Gipsy kept fairly well up to the Fool, and the rirler of the latter, when his l saw that the General was past the post,..drew up to speak to one of his friends before passing the post, although, within two chains of it, allowing Gipsy to come in second. Rivehton Handicap, of 25 sovs., with sweep of £1 to go to second horse. Distance, 2.miles and a,, distance. - Mr'John Smith's Hoim.pipe . (G. Price) 1 Mr Tho». C. WhiVs Atlas •- Mr G. Mason's Zenobjp ... ... ; ... 3 Mr James Bonar's Bothwell ... "-" ... ; 0 Mr Chas. Wyett's Mullatto ... ... ! 0 Mr D. Brenehley's Hastings .'.. ... < 0 Darkey was scratched. Hastings got a bid start in this race arid never recovered his ground. Atlas, was- first favorite for the big money, : Hornpipe end -Bothwell dividing opinions as to second place". Atlas- never managed to get nearer Hornpipe, than soine three or four lengths, the latter winning 'by that distance. '■£ L ; Wau&Ace Stakes, x>i: 20 sovs., restricted to -district Horses owned for at least three months from date in the County of Wallace. Distance, 1£ mile. Mr Jas. Henderson's M&j Day, Bst (Price) j 1 Mr John Smith's Hornpipe; 9st (G.Smith) 2 Mr Jerry M'Lean's Bride, B*6 ... ... 8 Mr K.Fraser'i Charlie, 7st 716 ... ... ! 0 This, event lay between: May Day and Hornpipe from the first. May Day won without much effort. *. Hospitai Race, of 10 sovs. . Stakes and entrance money divided ' equally between winner and the Wallace and Fiord Hos-

pital. Distance, 1 milo ; catch weights. Mr 3» Smith's Hornpipe .;. (T, Smith) 1 Mr J. Bbnar's BothwelT ... (Jno. Fraser) 2 Mr J. McLean's May Day... ... ... 0 Mr W, Ward's Stormbird...■ ■" ... ... 0 Hornpipe and Bothwell were the two that were most fancied as the contributor to the Hospital fund, and aa the result proved, the confidence was merited. Bothwell tried hard to decrease the distance between himself and the winner, but without avail. Cohsoiatiow Hahdl'CAp, of 8 sovs., for al beaten horses during; the meeting. Distance 1 mile. .',-1.1 Mr R. Anderson's Darkey.., (Bridge) 1 Mr J. Smith's Waiau ... (T. Smith) 2 Mr T. C. White's Atliia ... ... ... 0 Mr G. Mason's Zenobia 0 Mr J. MvLean's Bride ... ... .. 0 This was one of the best races of the meeting, which was duo in no small degree to the excellent judgment shown in the handicapping. For a considerable part of the distance the proverbial tablecloth could have covered the four leading horses, and as they passed the judge they were all well together, Darkey and Waiau leading by a length. Haok Selling Race, of 10 sovs. 1 mile; catch weights. Winner to bo sold for £lO. There were five entries for this race. By the time the last heat was rim it was too dark to observe the course of the race. The winner was sold for £2O iss. Mr Lawson's Lady Bird ... ... Oil Mr Turnbull's Morris Dancer 100 Mr M'Lean's Merry Maid 000 Mrflewton'sDick 000 Mr Knewdson's Doctor .„ 000 A meeting of the Eace Committee was held at the Wallace Hotel in the evening in reference to the settling up and other business. The first matter considered was a protest lodged bv Mr Mason, the owner of Zenobia, against the rider of Atlas for riding inside one of the posts while running in the Eiverton Handicap. An objection against the protest being received, on the ground that it was not lodged in time, was made by Mr "White, owner of Atlas, but was not entertained, on account of its being proved that it was lodged within the time specified by the Dunedin Jockey Club rules under which the races were run; besides, the customary deposit had not been paid.by Mr White. Evidence having Been given in support of the protest

by Mr Mason, who, however, admitted that rather than go to the trouble of lodging his protest he had'proposed to divide the stakes with White, but the owner of Atlas thinking he (Ma?on) was too late to lodge his protest told him he could go and enter a protest aud do his best. The Committee considered the matter of Atlas's running inside the post proved, and disqualified him, but owing to Mason's conduct in offering to compromise the affair he had debarred himself from any title to the sweep, which would go to the Race Fund. The Committee unanimously resolved that the manner in which the horse Hornpipe was ridden in the "Wallace Stakes should disqualify the horse and rider from ever ri-ting on the Riverton course; and had they been a properly" constituted Jockey Club they would have done so. Financial matters having been gone into, it was decided to pay any demands made upon the Committee that evening.