MATAKANUI RACES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 612, 9 January 1874, Page 3

MATAKANUI RACES.

O —- ' (COMMUNICATED.) This moeting'canie off on the 2nd ami 3rd January instant, but owing to the few home* engaged in' the various ‘events in the spirited programme, was not so groat success as was anticipated, oa might have been expected. Many horses,"owing to their non-sucosss at other meetings, and handicapped to carry similar weights, did not put in an‘appearance, and the rule of three hoi»ea f to start or no race tended to this result. To the uninitited, this rule may seem but a fair protection to the Club, but owners of horses have to be taken into consideration, and their rights should not be ignored, and hope another failure will not arise again from the same cause. The' k attendance of visitors may be set down at about three hundred, including a good sprinkling of ladies, and despite the many drawbacks, appearedto enjoyjthe outing The boothholder, who had prepared everything for the comfort of visitors, was well supported, and most deservedly so, as 'everything supplied was the best, and this department is held up as a pattern to caterers in general. The c towards and other offi - cers of the Club worked most assiduously to make up for the want of horses, and highly successful were they in their endeavour. The following is a resume of‘the races .- Fmsr Dav. Maiden Plate of 10 sova. Distance, one mile'aua a quarter. Artful Joe 1 Flirt 2 Bobby 3 Only three started. Flirt at the start cut'SVit the running, but Artful Joe soon disposed of his antagonists anil won easily. Matakanui Handicap of 50 sovs, distance one mile and a half. This Pace fell through for want of sufficient entries, Brunette being the only acceptor. A handicap of 15 sovs, substituted for the above also fell through from a similar cause. Selling Slakes of 15 sovs. Distance, one . mile and a qua.ter. Sammou’s Polly 1 Morgan’s Blood Royal 2 Taggart’s Charley 3 This was a good race, Polly was after-wavds-suhmitted to competition and realized 27 1. Hurry Skurry of 5 sovs. was won by Taggart’s Charley-heating three others. District Handicap of 15 sovs. Distance, ons'iuile. (substituted for-the Newtown Handicap). Taggart’s Charley, Bst 1 do Feiiian. 9st2lb 2 Keenan's Pickpocket, TstlOlh 3 The running iu this race was most questionable, and in no way creditable to either owner or rider of Pickpocket, who was hard held the whole distance. Second Day. On the evening of the first day, curiosity was oa tip toe to hear the acceptances for the seond'vlay’n sport, and a large crowd gathered at the Matakanui Hotel. On the mines being posted, Mr. Stanbrnok was the centra of attraction, and succeeded in getting off a good few Calcuttas. The first event for the second day was as fid lows : Miners* Purse of 10 sovs. Distance, three quarters of a mile. This was won by Caller-ou, beating easily five others Midsummer Handicap of 30 sovs. Distance, one mile and a quarter. Taggart’s Fenian, Sstllb 1 Hazletfs Brunette, 9St7lb 2 Keenan’s Pickpocket, 7sit 1 3 Rivers’ Manx Boy, 9et 4 Fonian took the lead and was never caught; Brunette struggled hard, bitt the lesnlt showed that she was overweighted. Hurry Scurry of 5 sovs. ; three 'quarters of a mile heats. Caller-ou won easily, beating five others. A match now was run between Flirt and Miss Grant, which proved a good race, and Was won by Flirt by half a length. Consolation Handicap of 10 sova. was won by Manx Boy with Ostl 21b, heating Miss Grant and Kata, each carrying Ost 12lh Manx Boy afterwards changed hauls, Mr. Morgan becoming the purchaser for 70 1.