After the Races.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 439, 22 December 1898, Page 12

After the Races.

CHRISTCHURCH RACING CLUB’S SUMMER MEETING. [By vur Canterbury Correspondent.] The Christchurch Racing Club departed from its usual custom this year, and held a two-day meeting instead of one. This was on Friday (Anniversary Day) and Saturday last, and favored by fine weather, there was a large attendance on both dajs. The club has every reason to be well satisfied with its experiment. New Brighton was the venu and a few hours of bracing sea air, combined with some good sport, proved very enjoyable. There was capital racing, and speculation was brisk, the sum of £4,086 being passed through the machine during the two days. Racing commenced on the first day with the Hurdle Race, one mile and three-quarters. The field was narrowed down to three —Nicholson 10.9, Magazine 10.0, and Powder Monkey 9.4. The last-named, with W. Clarke up, -was installed favorite. Magazine and Nicholas led at intervals during the first mile, when the latter drew away and was some lengths in front at the mile and a half post. Clarke then made a move on Powder Monkey. The latter took command half-way down the straight, and won by a length and a half, Magazine ten lengths away. Dividend, £1 12s.

A field of ten went out for the Maiden Plate, Murray Hobbs’ three-year-old gelding, Bristol, by St. Clair—Lady Florence, being considered the most likely to furnish the winner. He failed to run prominently, and Huku, 7.13, by Vanguard — Spray, won by half a length from. Matlock (8.11), Shekel (8.13) third, Legerity (8.2) fou.th. Dividend, £4 4s. ' Then came the Christchurch Cup, one mile and a quarter, for which six horses went to the post. Bloomer (7.13), on account of the good work she had been doing, was made favorite, Malatua (7.7) being next in demand. The favorite ran very well for a mile, where she was leading Bi-metallist (7.6) and Skirmisher (8.10) by three lengths. Bloomer retired as the straight was reached, and Skirmisher had no difficultly in beating Malatua by two lengths, Jewel (8.8) third a length further away. Dividend, £6 12s. Johnny 111. won the Brighton Trot, two miles, easily from Rossignol and Arahura, and paid £3 16s.

Bristol, who ran so badly in the Maiden, won the Hick Race, six furlongs, by a head from Legerity,' Lavinia third, Flying Kitty fourth. Dividend, £2 14s. The stewards asked Mr Hobbs for an explanation of Bristol’s running in the Maiden, and considered it satisfactory. Nine horses saddled up for the Electric Plate, six furlongs. The winner turned up in Jewel (8.12), who won by a length and a half from Belligerent (7.11), Bizarre (7.8) third. Warrington (8.5), Lepanto (8 3), Ben Farley (8.2) were among the starters. Dividend, £3 4s. Derrett, who rode the winner, was asked to explain Jewel’s running in the Cup, and the explanation was considered satisfactory. Spec won the Summer Trot, two miles, beating Gazelle by three lengths. Dividend, £6.

The Welter Handicap furnished the best race of the day, the judge being unable to separate Matlock (8.13) and Huku (8 0) at the finish, Sequin (9.12) third. Wedlock (9.3), Lora Stanbury (9.0), also started. The dividend on Matlock was £3 Bs, and on Huku £2 2s. The owners agreed to divide. In the Hurdle Race on the second day Nicholas had a walk over.* The Nursery Handicap was contested by three ' two-vear-olds. After an exciting tussle Hawthorn beat Susannah by a head, with Silex close up. Dividend, £l2 Bs. . . ’ The Windsor Handicap, one mile and a distance, brought out six horses, of whom Jewel (9.0) was made a warm favorite. Alcestis (7.8) made the running from the start, and managed to last long enough to beat Jewel by a length and a half, Sequin (8.0) third, Bi-metallist (7.7) fourth. Dividend, £8 6s. Ross’ignol won the Avon Trot, paying £7 16s. Jewel made amends for her previous defeats by winning the Flying Handicap, seven furlongs, from Ben Farley (7.10) and Belligerent (8.1). Jewel carried top-weight (9.7), and won by a length. Bloomer (8.9) again ran disappointingly. Dividend, £3 16s. The Hack Race, six furiongs, was won easily by Bagengang, who cantered home six lengths in front of Osmel, Lavinia third. Dividend, £2 4s. The winner was bought in for £l3. The High-weight Handicap concluded the racing, and was won by Matlock (9.7), he beating Wedlock (9.5) by a length, Alcestis (10.1) being third half a length away Rex 11. and Lord Stanbury also started. A protest against the winner, on the ground of inconsistent running, was dismissed. The dividend, £l3 Bs, was the largest paid during the two days.