DARGAVILLE RACES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 39, 25 April 1891, Page 4

DARGAVILLE RACES.

The Dargaville Jockey Club’s inaugural meeting took place on the 17th and 18th inst. It was not so successful as one could have wished. Owing to a mistake it clashed with the Avondale meeting, and it was too late in the season to hold an up country meeting, the consequence being that not many people or horses went from Auckland —the attendance therefore was small. The racing was not very interesting, as the handicapping was not of the best—the favourites in most instances winning easily and the dividends small. The course, owing to its being newly formed and the heavy rains, was very holding. The racing commenced with the Maiden Plate, for which five came to the post, Potentate, 7st 61b, winning easily from Una, 7st 41b ; Clinch, Bst 101 b, the favourite, being third, Medley, 7st, and Shark, 7st, being the other starters. Dividend (10s, tickets), £1 7s. The Bushman’s Purse only brought out two runners. Priscilla, Bst 21b, defeated Sirloin, 7st, in a common canter by ten lengths. Dividend, 12s. Only four came to the post for the First Handicap Hurdle Race. Nap, list, won easily by three lengths from Jim, 9st 71b. King, 9st 101 b, and Larrikin, lOst 21b, being the other starters. King, when running well, struck the last hurdle, and coming down put his shoulder out, and gave Mahon, his jockey, a severe shaking. Larrikin broke down badly. Dividend, 14s. Four was again the main for the Dargaville Cup, If miles, the principal race of the meeting, resulting as follows:— Priscilla, Bst, 1 ; Nap, 6st 121 b, 2; Pocentate, 6st 71b, 3. Leorina, lOst 71b, also started. Won easily by three lengths. Leorina was favourite, but the heavy ground told on her. Dividend, £2 7s. Bravo easily beat by two lengths six others for the Handicap Hack Race. Dividend, £l. Six faced the starter for the Railway Plate, one mile. Leorina, lOst 51b, the favourite, won cleverly by two lengths from Nap, 6st 121 b. Una, 6st 51b, third. Sirloin, 7st 31b, Landseer, 7st 21b, and Lady Emma, 6st 71b, also started. Dividend, 15s. Second Day.

The attendance was smaller than on the first day, and the course was in a very heavy condition. The racing commenced with the Publicans’ Purse, for which seven faced the starter. Leorina, lOst 91b, won by a head from Priscilla, Bst 121 b, Clinch, 7st 111 b, including 101 b overweight, third. Sirloin, 7st, Potentate, 6st 121 b, Una, 7st 21b, including 41b overweight, and Lady Emma, 7st 31b, including 121 b overweight, also started. Dividend, 15s. In the Second Handicap Hurdle Race, Jim, 9st 71b, won easily by two lengths from Nap, list 71b. Dividend, £1 9s, The Northern Wairoa Handicap, 1J miles, only brought out a field of four. Leorina, lOst 71b, the favourite, won easily by a length from Priscilla, 9st 71b, Nap, Bst 51b, third. Potentate, 7st 91b, also started. Dividend, 12s. Vampire, 7st 71b, beat Sirloin, Bst, and Landseer, 7 st 71b, by two lengths for the Auction Stakes. For the Second Handicap Hack Race, Clinch, 9st, won by a length from Darkey, 7st, Gipsy, Bst 121 b, and three others. Dividend, 17s. The Gumdiggers’ Plate, which concluded the meeting, brought four to the post. The favourite Bravo. 7st 61b, including

61b overweight, won by two lengths from Jim, 7st 121 b, Vampire, 7st, third. Landseer, Bst 121 b, including 121 b overweight, also started. Dividend, 13s.