HAMPDEN RACES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3017, 25 February 1881, Page 4

HAMPDEN RACES.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT"). February 21, 1881

As a usual thing thin township might be described in a short phrase of three words, " Quintessence of quiteness" ; but to-day Hampden wore a gay and (for an out-of-the-way township) bustling aspect. Although tho great attraction, our annual races, might be supposed to possess charms for those interested in horse-flesh only, a strong master of outsiders, including a fair proportion of ladies, assembled this forenoon on the Hampden course and considering the impromtu manner in which country meetings are usually got up, the present race was far from being discreditable to our unpretentious township. '.:.'_ following is tbe result of the several events: —

HURDLE ItACE. 2 miles. Fangh-a-ballagU 1 Express ... ... ... 2 —One other horse was entered, but was scratched by the owner, who considered the hurdles" too stiff. During the race Express fell, throwing his rider (Parkinson.) hack hurdle race. Karamu ... ... ... 1 Grey Tom 2 —One other horse raced, but he fell and was right out of the race. HAMPDEN STAKES, 2 miles; flat race. Merlin (Baker's) 1 Napier ... ... ... 2 Six horses started. The run for second place wa3 closely contested by Napier and Faugh-a-ballagh. ; HACK race, 1 mile. Mira 1 Tommy (late Lucifer) ... 2 Seven hacks started, but only Mira, Tommy, and Ruahine stood any show of Winning. Mira led all the way to finish. ladies' purse, 1 mile. Merlin 1 Nancy 2 Fernglen and Napier also started, Merlin was an easy winner, DISTRICT PLATE, 1 mile. Heretaunga 1 Lady Dolly 2 Game Boy and Manganuka also ran, Game Boy coming up third, with Manganuka far behind.