Whether the Stewards of the Race Club were wise or not in dividing the three days' sport, by a Sunday, we cannot say, it is simply our pleasurable duty to record the fact that the meeting passed off most satisfactorily, to the enjoyment of every one.
No small share in the success is due to the indefatigable Clerk of the Course, who appeared to be everywhere, and we were pleased to find that although he was unfortunate with his own ponies, he was at the end of yesterday's races able to score a win.
There has seldom been a greater crowd.of Chinese on the course than on Saturday, probably owing to the fact that the day was the Chinese Christmas Day and may account for the number of mandarins from the Taotai down, who came to see the Haekwan Cup run for.
Although at times almost unmanageable, the crowd were very good natured, and no great delay arusa m clearing the course for any of the races.
The weather on the first two days was cold, but fine throughout, and the presence on all three days of most of the ladies tended to the enjoyment of those who were not altogether engrossed in the sport of the meeting.
'The Ladies' Purse won by Mr, Drummond was presented by Miss Campbell in such eloquent terms and at such length, that we were not surprised to hear Mr, Drummond say he felt quite nonplussed. We can only hope that the good wishes of the ladies Uf Foochow as expressed by Miss Campbell may follow this young rider.
It is certain that the griffins are a better lot than Foochow has seen fur some years, Even if some of them did not turn out well or make such a good Investment as they
Fritz and one or two more, if not at the were expected to, such ponies as Yarrum, top of the tree are not to be despised; and we think the extra cost ut the ponies was wisely spent, when so many good rat were as keenly contested for.as in the past meeting. The times as given below are good, considering the smallness of the course; and it is noticeable that out of 15 griffins 8 are recorded winners.
There seemed to be " want of jockeys but, local talent held its own, even against Shanghai, and Mr. Moorhead secured seven races, the same number as Mr. Hutchings while Mr. Drummond came next, beating Mr. Courts who was not so fortunate in his mounts, Finst Day, Friday, 20th December, 1889.
L—Tue. Srewanps' Cv Value 875. Entrance $5. Forall China ponies. Weights as per scale. Half a mile.
Mr. Talk's Witcheraft, Mx. Hutchings 1
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.