Stewards:—Jas. Hanr, Esq., @. W. Courts, Esq., 8. G. Low, fsq., J. M. Rincer, Bs. P. G. Honor, Hoq., F. D. Hiram, Esq., A. McLeon, Esq.
Banxes Dautas, Esq., Clerk of the Course.
Fourra Dox, Saturday, 9th November, 1878.
This, the Fourth, or as it is popularly called, the "'off-diy" of the Shanghai Auturan Meeting, was more than ordinarily successful even for a day looked forward to as being productive of an unusual quantum of sport of the real kind, No fewer than eight races were on the card, including a revival of the 'Oldsters' Sweepstakes," which of itself was a sufficient inducement to cause a large attendance of lovers of "the spors"—especially after reading the report of the meeting of 1848, which must have caused some of the "oldsters" to cast a retrospective glance over " years of pleasure past."
The weather to-day was good for racing, and although the course was somewhat heavy after the late rains, the running was fair and some good races ensued.
The Grand Stand was graced with a larger number of the world's chief blessings—the ladies—than we remember to have seen for some years past on an off-day, and this, perhaps—or shall it be said, certainly—twas caused not so much by the fineness of the weather, as by the fact that, with commendable forethought, the Stewards had at length brought the Steeplechase into daylight,—that is to say, they made it the third race on the' card instead of leaving it as formerly till the shades of evening had so far dimmed the landscape as to make it nearly invisible to the spectators and causing it to be uncertain jumping for the jockeys, through the timidity of the ponies in taking the leaps in the gloaming.—Of spectators generally there was a larger attendance than has been frequently seen on an off-day, though probably the Saturday half-holiday had much to do with this—being a strong indication of the value set upon the se'nnight recurrence of the opportunity for relaxation and sport (when the latter offers) by the community generally—and which we fervently hope the memorial, now gone home, signed by 460 residents, will be taken as confirmation so strong as to have the heaviest possible weight upon the mind of Lord John Manners, and cause the scale to kick the beam in our favour in this distant Far East, cut off, as we are, from home and kindred.
The sport was good, and the fidds left nothing to be desired either in quality or quantity; but beyond what has been sai below in the record of each race, there is nothing to observe except a remarkable instance of quadrupedal sagacity which happened in the race for the "Oldsters' "and which it must be frankly admitted is worthy the attention of naturalists and the advocates of the doctrine of natural selection in parti cular, Will it be believed that the defeat of Masaniello was currently attributed to the fact that, the rider of Condor—absorbing name—when he found himself ranging alongside, whispered in his ear the well-known London ery of "ko," causing the intelligent animal to think (or fancy) he had sundry calls to make—a knock down so successful that it is needless to say the old-un" is said to have repeated it, like a doctor's dose, at every neodfal stride If trac, it was effective, as everybody then present now knows,—but was not so eong ta its ultimate results as the now equally well-known pow-drench.
'But a truce to joking; the curtain of be fell upon the finale of the Shanghai Autumn Meeting' of 1878, for the last race was run under the glimpses of the "polo Indy moon," and as the Stand and_its enclosures rapidly became thinned of the throngs that had a few minutes before occupied them, it is not too mutch to believe that the general wish was that of prosperity to the ' Shanghai Race Club, and may every future meeting be as successful in all respects as that just over."
Appended is a return of the running tae Ixrarvarton Cur.—Value, Tis.
100.—Presented.—For Ponies that have run at this Meeting and not won a Race.—Weight for inches as_per scale.—Entrance, $5, to be divided Detween first and second Pony.—One Mile.
The John Peel's black Black Cloud...10.11...
files' grey Castaway fob Ten Broeck's grey Iitd Glen Bac skewbald Strathmore }10.13. Tro 0 Ned's grey Sheer Ah late Ganymede Kebrovo's roan Reichsfitrat 0 John Peel's grey First Flight 0
Ah and Reichsfiirst in front and First The lot be off at the first attempt, Sheer Fligit in close attendance. In a few strides the last-named sought to prove the value of his name and rin into scend place, a position he held till nearing the Monument, Wild Glen having in the meanwhile obtained third honours and Castaway fourth. Black Clowd also began to loom heavy, and the others falling away, the race up the: straight was left to the three. A challenge sued, ending in favour of Black Cloud by of course rook place, and a pretty race several lengths, Castaray second by about a neck after an exciting race with Wild Glen.—Time, 2 min, 16} secs.
2,—Tae Iseorit Cur.—Value, Tls. 100.—Preserted.—For Griffins that. have run, and not been plassed at this Meeting.—Weizht for inches os per scale—Entratice, $5, to go to the second Pony,—Thrve-Guarters of @ Mile. g's grey.
Godolphin's grey Nonpareil 8
This pretty little trio started well together, Nonpareil slightly in front, and the pace toon became fast, too fast for the leader, ho quickly resigned the command both to Brutus and Sheer Dowlah, and a good race ensued between them, At the entrance tothe straight Sheer Dowwlah, who was on the outside, indulged Brutus with a hope of keeping alongside hira, but after a few score more yards had been covered, he came away and won in the easiest manner.—Time, 1 min, 41} secs.
It should' not be forgotten that Sheer Dowlah was ridden without spurs or whip, and that Brutus was without shoes, 3.—Tue Geaxp Natiowat Srezrrecnase.—A Sweepstakes of Tls. 10 each For China Ponies.—Weight for inches as per scale, with ibs. added.—Orer the usual Steeplechase Course.
Mr, Edmund's grey Suezessor Reynel''s grey Fantai.
Motto grey Blarney late black Aeanee} yy 4. 9
Ned's dun Sheer Koorsheed Fantai, the favourite, started with the ead, followed by Blarney, the rest well together, but a tail was goon visible. The leader mad a slight gap in topping the fist hurdle, an advantage of which the others were not slow in availing themselves. They all got over the first water jump in safety and then pushed on for the Wall and ditch, where Sheer Koorsheed made a mess of it, fell, and unseating his rider, was no more seen in the chase, Successor. was now going second, Blarney third, and Meanee fourth, and in this order they cleared the "natural," and the wall and ditch; but at the "double" opposite the Grand Stand Fantai, in jumping the second ditch, came down and threw his rider, who comploted a lovely somersault, but with the agility of a ranger was up, mounted, and off again in a "brace of shakes "the interval, however, being sufficient to give Successor the lead an Blarney second place. Meanee, at the same spot, washed the mud off both himself and his rider, who, nothing daunted, helped his unlucky steed up the bank, remounted, and the pair, about as wet as Dr. Gully could rake them, set off again in pursuit of the three. All now went happily for a long distance, Fantai, racing into second place, soon afterwards went alongside Successor, but as far as could be seen, did not wrest the lead from him, though a good race ensued to the wall and. ditch, which Successor was over first, and finally won the best steeplechase ever ran over the Shanghai country by about two lengths from Fantai—Blarney, who had to scramble over his last fence, having gob stuck on the top of it, finishing third, and -Meanee fourth, the loudest of cheers froma densely crowded Stand and enclosure greet~ ing the termination of the chase.
4.—Tue Maroos' Race.—For Ponies that have run at this Meeting.—Winners at this Meeting excluded.—Weight, 9st. 7lbs.—Entrance, $5.—Once Round.—Native Riders in Racing Colours.—The Stakes to be handed to the Riders as follows:—The Winner, 5/8ths; second rider, 2/Sths; third rider, 1/8th.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.