LAKE DISTRICT RACES.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 167, 21 January 1873, Page 5

LAKE DISTRICT RACES.

The race meeting at Frankton Flat last week cannot be truthfully described as a successful one. The time of holding it—the busy harvest season—was ill chosen. While hundreds of acres of ripe grain remained uncut in the fields, it was not to be expected that the farmers would risk the consequences of unnecessary delay in securing it merely for the sake of seeing the races. The agricultural section of the population, therefore, furnished but a small quota of the number of spectators who were present during the meet. A cold wind, followed by smart showers of rain, prevailed in the afternoons of Thursday and Friday, and caused much physical discomfort to those who remained on the course till evening. But towards sundown the wind died away, and the nights were calm and pleasant. The attendance on Friday was nearly double that of the first day, but probably did not exceed 000 or 700 persons. The want of a grand stand was a matter of universal complaint, the undulating nature of the ground on which the course is laid out rendering it impo siMo to obtain a good view of the races except from a considerable elevation We shall say nothing more about the management of the races than that it might have been worse—but not much. With the exception of the judge—whose duties are usually of a passive nature, and were so on this occasion -the starter was the only officer on the ground who seemed to know his duty, and he certainly did it exceedingly well. There was not a bad start throughout the meeting : but neither, we regret to add, was there a single well-coutosted race. A L'ood deal of betting took place, and many sweeps were got up, both on ana oil' the course. M iV.vell's Hotel, Mr Stanbrook disposed of over £4OO worth of Calcuttas,—the favourites realising, in almost every instance, unusually high figures.

TItITSSDAY, Januahy lOi The opening evoub of tlio meeting waa to have been a Mai len Plato of 30 Bova. ; hut owi ig to the insufficiency of the number of entries, it was struck out of the programmed, and the that race of the day was the Grand Stand ftANIHrJA.i', of (JO sow., nnd a sweep of 3 sovs. each, to go to second horse. Open to all horses. Distance, two miles. Mr Hazlett's b g Atlas, aged, by The PeerBarbara, 7st 51b .' .. (liolo) 1 Mr brg Burgundy, aged, lost 3'b Mr Nos worthy's br m Malice, 5 yrs, lOat ... (Rdiy) 3 Also ran—Boomerang, fist 1211) i Excelsior, 75t5%. The next event on the Card was the Hack Selling Race, of 20 sovs. Open to all untrained district horses. Heats—once round the course. No less weight than lOst. Mr L ' s b g Merrythought (Williams) 1 1 Mr M'Morran'sbg Brian O'Lynn (Laing) 2 0 Mr Bordeau's g g Kangaroo ... 3 0 This race was a complete gift to Merrythought, who won the first heat With great ease, and distanced both his rivals in the second. The winner was subsequently sold by auction by Mr D. Powell, and realised a few pounds above the amount of the stakes,—the surplus, as usual, going to the race fund. Then followed, after a long interval, the Wakattp Handicap, of 40 sovs. Open to district horses only. Distance, two miles. Mr G. Atkins' br m Taffrail, by LeotardWetsail, 6 yrs, Bst I Mr Bordeau's eg Excelsior, aged. Bst 121b ... 2 Mr T. Grace's c m Flora, 6 yrs, 7st 31b ... 3 Mr It. M'Morran's b m Wild Pose, 7st ... 0 _ The lateness of the hour at which the Wakatip Handicap was run off, caused the stewards to postpone the Hurdle Eade until the following day. Friday, January 17\ Handicap Hurdle Hack, of 50 sovs. Open to all horses. One and a half mile heats, over five nights of hurdles, four feet high. Mr Nos worthy's b g Nigger, aged, lOst ... (Taylor) 1 1 Mr J. Buckham's c g Sir Tatton, aged, list (Laing) 0 0 Maid of the Mill, flat 71b ; Flying Doe, Bst: and Don Juan, 7st 71b, were scratched. Sir Tatton was a strong favourite for this event, but after the start it soon became evident that the height of the hurdles did not please him, for after clearing the first and second jumps in the wake of Nigger,—who was allowed to lead,— Laing had some trouble in getting him over the three remaining fences. The time thus lost was improved by Nigger, who took all the leaps without demur. After clearing the fourth jump, and while traversing some rough ground, Nigger fell, and unseated his rider. Taylor, though slightly hurt, was in the saddle again in a jiffy, and finished the bent without fur her mishap. In the second heat, Sir Tatton still objected to the hurdles, and allowed Nigger to complete his victory at his leisure. Next came the

Hack HuniiLE P \ce of 2? Open to district horses only. One and a half mile heats, over five flights of hurdles, four feet high. No weight less lhau 10sfc. Mr Boyle's bg Arabian Chief (R. Laverty) ] 1 Mr Will's bg Don Juan, aged ... (Owner) 0 0

The other entries were Mr M'Morran's Black Doctor and Mr Bordean's Kangaroo. The former was scratched, and the latter refused to jump. The Chief won both heats easily,—Don Juan being distanced in consequence of his reluctance to face the timber. Queenstown Handicap of SO sovs. Open to all horses. Distance, two and a half miles. Mr Hazlett'sbg Atlas, aged, 7st ... (Holt) 1 Mr Atkins' br m Taffrail, 6 yrs, Gst 71h (T. Cotter) L Mr Paterson's bg Burgundy, aged, lOst lib ••• ••■ . "... *... ~ (Williams) 0 Mr Nosworthy's b g Tarnbourini, 4 yrs, lOst 51b ' (Bear) 0 Mr Taggart's br g Boomerang, 4 yrs, Gst 101b 0 Mr Bordean's ch g Excelsior, aged, 7st ... 0 Mr Powell effected an excellent start. Atlas and Excelsior at once went to the front, followed by Tatfrail, who passed the pair near the halfmile post. Excelsior gradually dropped behind, while Burgundy and Tarnbourini came up third and fourth. Passing the stand the fust time, Taffrail was leading by half a length ; Atlas lying second, Burgundy third. Tarnbourini, several lengths behind, fourth ; whilst Excelsior and Boomerang were evidently too far behind to have any chance of being placed. Atlas now went again to the front, and maintained the same position to the finish, winning easily by nine or ten lengths. Taffrail was second ; the others distanced. It should be mentioned that on the first attempt to start the horses, Taffrail ran away with her jockey, and her wild gallop was only stopped when she ran against the rope-fence opposite the judge's platform. The boy was of course thrown over the ropes, but fortunately sustained no injury. Handicap Trotting Race, of 20 oovs. Three miles. Open to district horses only. Weight not less than lOst. Mr R. M'Morran's b g Jock, 350 yards start (A. 11. Douglas) 1 Mr Atkins' b m Nancy, scratch (T. Nicol) 2 Mr Boyes' br m Polly, 400 yards (D, Nicol) 3 Mr Atkins' mare was the only square trotter of the three, the others breaking repeatedly. Jock, being accustomed to a much lit avier weight, carried his fourteon-stono rider apparently with great ease, and came in first by about 250 yards. Publicans' Pukse of 30 sovs. Open to all horses. One and a half mile. Mr Patterson's c g Lyndon, aged, by Potentate, Sst 121b (Williams) 1 Mr G. Atkins' br m Taffrail, 6 yrs, 7st 101b ... (H-.lt) 2 Mr Nosworthy's br in Malice. 5 yrs, Pst 111b ;•' (Rear) 3 Mr Bordeau sb g\ \ elcoine, aged, Gst 0 Mr Grace's e m Flora, G yrs, Gst (51b (Cotter) dist. On the fall of the starter's flag, Lyndon went off with the lead, and was not passed throughout the race, although he was closely pressed by Taffrail. M abee was overweighted, and wouldu t gallop, but nevertheless cantered in third at the finish. Lyndon won by about tv, o lengths, with Taffrail eeeoud*

This concluded the racing for tho Hay, the stewards having decided to postpone tho Congo* latioii Handicap till SAtfURfiAY, JANITAIJV 18. CuNwoLA'i'ro.s Handicap, of 20 sovs. Oiie and ti half milei For all beaten horses. Malice..! .: 1 Will Rose ... 0 Tauibourini and were entered, but did Hot accept: VVild Bose. bolted j and thus tho radd became a gift to Malice. A I lack Race, of XIS, (substituted for the Maiden I'late,) artd a Hospital Hace, wero also run duriiig tho evening • but we haVe no record of the results. It was near 1 fotlr O'clock when tlie■<!'finsolatiiil Handicap was run, so that It ii not unlikely one df the other events was post* polled till Monday.