WALLACE COUNTY JOCKEY CLUB RACES.

Western Star, Issue 727, 28 March 1883, Page 2

WALLACE COUNTY JOCKEY CLUB RACES.

Judge, Mr M. Inatone; Clerk of Scales, Mr B. Willett; Clerk of Course, Mr J. Murdoch; Starter, Mr J. Lyle; Secretary, Mr M. Shields. The second meeting under the auspices of the above Club came off yesterday in a paddock to Mr J. R.*Mills, situated on the highland, about two miles from town. The weather was exceedingly favorable for outdoor sports, but despite this attraction the attendance was Very small, and did not probably exceed 300. Several reasons can be assigned for this. The day was not a general holiday, and coming immediately after the Easter holidays there were very few visitors from a distance. Banners, too, are still busy securing their crops, and could not afford to delay this work any longer. The distance of the racecourse from town also detracted from the attendance. The course was in some places rather broken, but the ground was perhaps the best that could have been got within any reasonable distance of town. The entries for the various events were not numerous, but the competition was on the whole fairly good. If the Club is to prosper and become a fixed institution in the district, the result shows that the Club must secure a suitable piece of ground within a convenient distance of town, and put it in a condition fit for horse racing. With but a little encouragement from the public a capital day’s sport would be assured, and the meeting would become of sufficient importance to induce the attendance of a better class and a larger number of horses. Mr Clode had a comfortable and capacious booth on the ground, and Mr Samson had a lunch and confectionery booth. There was also a representative of that modern essential of a race course, a totalisator, which did a fair amount of business, as did also a shooting gambling concern. The various events were got off promptly by the officers of the Club, and nothing transpired to mar the pleasure of the day. The afternoon was observed as a half holiday in town, but very few people visited the ground. A number of cabs plied between the race course and town, and were well patronised. The races were started about one o’clock, with the Handicap Hurdle Race, of 15 sovs., over eight flights of hurdles, 3ft Gin high. Distance, two miles aad a quarter. W. Souness’ b g Little John, LOst 121 b ( obinson) 1 M. Hayes* Baddy, 9st (Alexander) 0 This event was a hollow affair, as regards the contest for the race, although a couple of spills bv Baddy and the baulking of both horses created some interest. At the start Little John led and cleared the first hurdle in good style, but Paddy came down and rolled over his rider, who miraeuously escaped uninjured,—the horse also getting off with but a scratch on the near hind leg. Alexander quickly remounted, and caught up with Little John, who refused to negotiate the next hurdle, which Paddy baulked. With a little persuasion, however, Little John was induced to tike the obstacle, and Paddy on attempting to take it again came to grief and got away from his rider and ran over the course. In the meantime little John had reached the third hurdle, and it looked as if all attempts to get him over would fail, but after a delay of several minutes he took the timber, and from this time he had the race in hand. Paddy, after c msiderable delay, was again caught and put on to the . course, but he was entirely out of the race, and Little John won comfortably. Maiden Plate of 10 sovs. Distance, one mile an 1 a half. K. Fraser’s Fidget, 4y re, B<t 121 b (Wybrow) i M. Lyon’s Maori, 4yrs, Bat 111 b (owner) 0 The horses started on very even terms, the Maori slightly leading. The race was a very gentle one until half the distance had been covered, when they commenced to gallop, the horses keeping well together. Fidget, however, was kept well in hand, and soon show'ed to the front after a bit of a struggle, and won by two lengths, The Maori ran a game race, but was

outpaced. Handicap Trotting Race of 8 soys. Distance, three miles. . % . A. Jones’ b m Betty, 300yds (Gr. Smith) 1 T. Mortimer’s br m Penny, scratch (Owner) 0 Mclntosh’s black mare was scratched for this event, leaving only two competitors. The result showed that Penny was greatly over-handicapped, as Betty won by at least double the distance of her start. Both horses broke several times. Mortimer protested against Betty being awarded the stakes on the ground that the latter was informally nominated, her age not being stated. The protest was considered by the stewards in the evening and disallowed. Wallace County Cup, a handicap of 20 sovs., with a sweep of one sov., the amount aecruins from sweep to go to second horse. Distance, one mile and three quarters. C. McQuarrie’s Coldstream, 8 et 4 lb (Alexander) 1 Mortimer’s ch g Amulet, 9st 41b (Evans) 2 D. Milne’s b m Aurora, Bst 21b (Wybrow) 0 This was the most interesting item in the programme. The horses were evenly dispatched, but Coldstream was soonest on his legs and got the load, with Aurora in close attendance, and Amulet playing the whipper-in. This order was maintained for some considerable distance, when the favourite Amulet was called upon, and answered by taking second place, and thereafter there was a keen contest between this horse and Coldstream for the honors, but the latter could not be collared, and won by two or three lengths.

District Handicap of 15 sovs. Distance* one mile and three Quarters. Fraser’s Fsdget, Btt (Wybrow) I Hayes’ Paddy, 9st (Steel).., 0 Bangatira did not go in for this event. The race was looked forward to with interest, as it was expected that the contest between the ' two local horses would be a close one. The veteran Paddy had slightly the call, but be did cot run well, doubtless owing to the knocking about he got at the Hurdle Race. The pace was a hot one from the start, Paddy leading slightly, but shortly after settling dewn to their work it was seen that Paddy was doing his best, while the mare was being kept well in band. Ott approaching the straight on the way home Fidget forged ahead, although hard held, and came in a winner* by two lengths. Hack Race, of 7 sov. Mile lieats. Catch weights. Mortimer’s Pathfinder 1 o 1 Howarth’s Dandy ... ... . 010 Bridge’s Sampson and ’VYrighPa Little Paddy also' ran. The first heat was won easily by Pathfinder, Dandy being a fair second. The second heat was put to Dandy’s credit, Pathfinder evidently being nursed for the conqueror match. A capital race ensued between Pathfinder and Dandy for the final heat, the former passing the judge first by about three-quarters of a length. A protest was entered by the owner of Dandy that Pathfinder ran inside a post. Fhe stewards immediately took evidence in the case, which was clearly proved, Evans, the rider, admitting that he accidently went inside of a post. The stakes were therefore awarded to Dandy.

Consolation Handicap of 8 sovs. Distance, one mile and a distance. Mortimer’s Pathfinder, 7st. 41b (Boyle)* 1 Milne’s Aurora, Sst (Wybrow) ... ... 0

The horses cantersd half the distance and then let out, when a good race took' place, Aurora winning by a couple of lengths. The Hospital Race, for which six started, was a good affair, "Wilson's Dolly came in first, with M'Lean’a Rangatira and Eraser’s Bharley in attendance in the order named.

There being no entries for the Muff Race, this concluded the programme, and the few people who remained to the last quickly retired from the ground. __