The first day of the Spring Meeting passed off as successfully as the keenest atrous of local turf sports could desire.
the day was warm, but breezy and cloudy, and the rain, which seemed imminent, only'soattered a few premonitory drops as the spectators were leaving after the conclusion of the day's amusement. The Course was in fine condition for the fleet ones, and although in the long races the strong west wind blowing made some portions of the way more disagreeable and difficult than would otherwise have been the case, it did not impede the ponies in the shorter, and on the whole did not prevent exceptionally good time being made in all the events, 'The Griffins' Race has been done in the best time known, 1m. 82}, better than that made by the famous Flewy-de-lis in 1864, or by Alaric in 1870. The decline of Cocorico in the Grifin scale was a surprise to many who had learned to expect much from the anticipations raised during training time, but occasionally these are disappointed. The same noble owner, however, secured a race handsomely with Mon Etoile, so that his sporting "afar" is atill a lucky one. Kwo-pw-cla's running was very fine, and his rider has great credit by the manner in which he jockeyed him, Without any special excitement, there appeared to be much genuine interest en in the sport by Shanghai residents and numerous visitors from the Outports, who largely patronised the Races with their Presence. The Grand Stand was even more than hitherto a resort of the Ladies, who, by the celerity with which the events were put through, were enabled to witness and enjoy the whole programme. Commencing about 12.20, the sport was brought to a conclusion by about five, an arrangement which, with an interval for tiffin, when unbounded hospitality was extended to their friends by the Race Club and gentlemen residing in the neighborhood of the Course, appeared to suit everybody on the ground. Among the spectators on the Grand Stand, we noticed 1 Magistrate of the Mixed' Court, who was accompanied by his son, bright looking boy of about ten, and who stayed some time. "Under the ciceroneship of Mr. J. G. Murray, H. M. Vice-Consul, both appeared to take'a keen interest in the sport. The number of Chinese spectators was about the same as it usually ison the first day, when fewer seem to attend than on subsequent days.
We notice that, in accordance with a suggestion made at the last general meeting of the Race Club, tables of the results of the principal events for a number of years past have been drawn up and hung in Various parts of the Stand, for reference.
The following is the result of the day's racing—Tar Cnv-Ka-za Cor.
Value Tls. 75.—For China Ponies only.—Weight for inches as per scale,—Entrance, Tls. 5.—Half a Mr. Lbert's chesnut Little Bille 10st 2b... 1 Drakeir's dun Fugleman 10st Sib. 2 Rarey's grey Middlemarch 10st Sib... 3 Tinker's chesnut Rhino 9st 131b 0 Aitch's chesnut Cakes & Ale 10st 5Ib 0
grey Hurrah lst Oh.
her nut Vol an vent 10x Sh... 0 Low's grey Sir Launcelot 10st Sib 0 Arthur's grey Sauve-qui-peut 10st 2b. 0 Tokat's grey Proemyst 1dst 21b.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.