The Second Race Meeting.
First Day.—Monday, 15th March, 1839.
Town Plate, all ages, 2 sovs., 30 sovs. added from Race Fund; heats, 2 miles and a distance; weights, from two-year-olds, 7st. 9lb.; six and aged, 10st.; mares and geldings allowed 3lb.
Mr. Brown's b m Mountain Maid
Mr. M'Nail's b g Peacock
1 1 2 2
Mr. P. Scott's c g Shamrock Mr. Cottrell's b m Fancy
3 4
4 3
T h e Mountain Maid had it all her own way in both heats. A M A T C H for 20 sovs., p. p., M r . Pitman's chesnut pony Tuppy against Mr. E. D. Wedge's piebald pony Friday ; heats ; twice round the course. T H E L A D I E S ' P U R S E of 2 sovs. each, with 30 sovs. added; weights same as T o w n Plate, heats; two miles; gentlemen riders. M r . Brown's Mountain Maid Mr. Wood's Pet
1 2
1
Mr. M'Nall's Peacock
Dist.
Second Day.— 16th March. Such a wholesale turn out of the Melbournians was witnessed that it was said the town had more than doubled its entire population. T h e weather was glorious, Batman's Hill was grand, the course in capital order, the people in excellent humour, but the racing very poor. H U R D L E R A C E for all ages; 3 sovs. each, with 30 sovs. added; heats; two miles with six leaps of 4 ft. 6 in.; T o w n Plate weights; gentlemen riders. T h e winner of the T o w n Plate or Ladies' Purse to carry 5 lb. extra. Only two horses started, viz. :— Mr. Wood's Trump ...
Mr. Batman's Postboy
dis.
There were four jumps, and these, though in no way formidable, were awkwardly constructed. T r u m p was the superior animal, though he baulked thefirstleap, but was landed safely over with the third try. At the second jump Postboy knocked down a rail when Trump's owner, for some unstated reason, withdrew him and the other went his way leisurely, took the rest of the leaps, and, of course won. A n objection lodged with the Stewards was compromised by the owners of the horses agreeing to another trial of speed, which was fixed for the 1st of April. T H E T A V E R N P L A T E of 1 sov., with 20 sovs. added ; heats; one mile and a distance ; T o w n Plate weights; the winner of the T o w n Plate and Ladies' Purse to carry 5 lb. extra. Five horses started, viz.:— M r . Cornell's Fancy M r . P. Scott's Shamrock. M r . Batman's Postboy
1
1
2
2
3
3
Mr. Carr's Governor Bourke Mr. Wood's Pet
4 4 5 5
of 15 sovs. ; heats; one mile and a distance. Post entry of 1 sov., and catch N o winner to compete. Three horses started, viz. :—
SWEEPSTAKES
weights.
M r . P. Scott's Shamrock... M r . Carr's Governor Bourke
M r . Wood's Pet
3 dis.
U p o n the whole the meeting was pronounced to have been a success. N o accident of any account occurred, the people were more orderly than expected, the Stewards m u c h lauded for the efficient manner in which they had acquitted themselves. T h e only contretemps, if it can be so termed, was a detected case of pocket-picking. There was some notion of pitching the V a n Diemonian " buz-bloke" into the river, but instead, he was kicked off about his business.
