ASHBURTON RACING CLUB’S SPRING MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 510, 27 September 1900, Page 13

ASHBURTON RACING CLUB’S SPRING MEETING.

CBy ode Canterbury Correspondent."] The Ashburton Racing Club experienced bad weather for the opening of its Spring Meeting on Thursday Rain fell shortly after proceedings commenced, and continued for the rest of the day. Fields were larger than usual, and some of the races were well contested. Racing commenced with the. Lagmohr Handicap, five furlongs. There were eight starters, the best-known performers engaged being Hermosa, 9st 21b ; Warrington, Bst 10lb ; Ladykiller, Bst 31b ; Belligerent, Bst 81b, and Corusa, 7st 101 b. Five furlongs is the distance old Warrington likes, and he

went out favourite. Gun Rose, 6st 101 b, and Hermosa were in the lead for half the distance, when the favourite passed them, and won easily by a length from Orphan, who defeated Hermosa by a similar distance for second place. Div, £3 12s. The field for the Ashburton Cup, one mile and a-quarter, consisted of Nihilist, 9at 31b ; Strathnairn, Bst 101 b ; Huku, Bst; Phryne, 7st 71b; Suzannah, 6st 21b. Dundas was accepted for, but his owner did not start him. Suzannah was a slightly better favourite than Nihilist, and got away quickly. He piloted the field all round the back stretch, being fully four lengths ahead of Phyrne and Huku at the half distance. Nihilist moved up to the leaders at the five furlongs post and quickly overhauling Huku and Phyrne, went on in pursuit of Suzannah. Nihilist got his head in front at the distance, and won comfortably by a length, while the same distance separated Suzannah from Huku. Phyrne was fourth, and Strathnairn was a long way behind last. Div, £3 12s. The Fairfield Plate, five furlongs, brought out nine starters, Terrapin, Bst, being most fancied, with Clandeboye, Bst 51b, and Bonaparte, Bst 51b, next in demand. Terrapin, who cut out the running from the start, was in front right to within the distance, when Bonaparte, who had always been in close attendance, assumed command, and won by a length Flame, 7st 91b, was third. Div, £5 9s. St. Dennis, who has been running extremely well lately, was the popular selection in the Welter Handicap, seven furlongs. Bloomer, 9st 31b, whipped round at the start, and took no further part in the race. Corusa was first away, and reached the straight two clear lengths ahead of the favourite. With a furlong to go, .St Dennis had drawn alongside Corusa, and after a sharp tussle, beat her in the run home by nearly a length. Sub Rosa, Bst 111 b was third. The winner carried lOst 91b, and returned his supporters a dividend of £2 ss. Izal, an aged gelding by Vanguard, easily annexed the Novel Race of six furlongs, beating Magg, 9st 71b, by ten lengths, All Saints gaining third place. Nor’Wester was in the lead until within fifty yards of the winning post, when he fell clean away. Izal, who carried Bst, paid £2 Ils, and was bought in for £32. Only three saddled up for the Spring Handicap, six furlongs, Paladin, 9st 61b, Grandshot, 7st, and Terrapin, 6st 101 b. The two light weights made the running together until the distance was reached, when Paladin easily ran past them and won by a length from Grandshot. Div, £1 7s. The Galloway Handicap produced an exciting struggle between The Queen, 6st 101 b, St Loander, Bst 31b and Weazle, 7st 121 b. The first-named, who is a four-year-old filly by Pbsethon out of Goldfinch, beating St Loanda by half a length. Div, £4 19s. The Meeting was continued on Friday in fine weather, when some capital racing was witnessed. Warrington repeated his success of the first day by carrying off the first race on the card, the Allenton Handicap, six furlongs. He had four opponents, Belligerent, Bst 51b, The Orphan, 7st 131 b, Whirl wood, 7st 101 b and Corusa, 7st 31b. The Orpian led the field for half-a-mile, when she was joined by Warrington, who was in front at the distance, and remained there, winning by three lengths. The Orphan was second, half a length ahead of old Belligerent. The winner, who started a strong favourite, carried 9st 2ib and a dividend of £1 17s. St Loander, Bst 51b, who came second in the Galloway Handicap on the first day, annexed the Pony Handicap by a short head from Taranto, 9st 101 b, The Queen, 7st 131 b, gaining third place. Div, £5 81b. The field for the Tinwald Handicap, one mile, was as follows : Nihilist, 9st 121 b; Dundas, 9st 51b; The Spinner, Bst 81b; Suzannah, 7st 31b, and Phryne, 7st 31b. Dundas was made favourite, but after running in the lead with Phyrne for half-a-mile, he collapsed, and finished several lengths behind the leading horsts at the finish. Nihilist went to the front in the last half-mile, but his jockey, McComb, was caught napping, and The Spinner managed to get leveland make a dead heat, with Suzannah third. The dividend on Nihilist was£l 15s and on The Spinner £2 10s Terrapin, the three • year • old colt by Clanranald—Teradina, secured the Trial Handicap, defeating Flame by a length; Sally was third and Bonaparte next. Div, £6. Huku, carrying 9st 121 b, had very little difficulty in defeating Lady Medallist, Bst, and. Bloomer, Bst 131 b, in the Coldstream Welter, one mile. Huku settled his opponent’s at the half-mile post, and finished three lengths ahead of Lady Medallist. Div, £1 14s. The Disposal Handicap saw Izal again returned a winner, while Constance and Nor’Wester filled the places, with Magg fourth. Div, £1 18s. In the Farewell Handicap, Grandshot, 7st 71b, a six-year-old gelding by Artillery— Rosedale, got an advantage at the [start, never being headed, and won easily from Sub Rosa, Bst 61b, Hermosa, 9st 21b, third. Paladin, lOst 9ib, who was favourite, Lady killer, 7st 101 b and Corusa, 7st 71b, were the other starters. Div, £l4 16s