WANAKA ANNUAL RACES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1070, 27 October 1882, Page 3

WANAKA ANNUAL RACES.

This meeting took place on the Albert Town race course on Thursday and Friday last, the 19th and 20th instant., but was in no way so successful as in former years. Not that either the conducting of the meet* ing, or the quality or quantity of the racing —except in one instance—was to he questioned ; the want of success lay in the sparsity of the attendance of visi'ors, and that doubtless was to be to the fact of tour other race meetings having been held the preceding three weeks, vis., Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell, and Lowburn, or may be it was that the programme being extended to two days. The district for many years past has had its spring meeting and it is not to be supposed that because other places step in and hold meetings our Wanaka friends are to give way, but we suggest that in future they should confine themselves to one day, and our prediction is that everything would then pass off as successfully and pleasantly as of old. The Wanaka meeting has always been a popular one, many taking advantage of it to enjoy a visit to the most beautiful of our Otago lakes, and none would regret it more than ourselves that it should become less so. By this time next year, Mr Hedditch will have his new steamboat on the lake, then a days racing and a days steaming or sailing over the lake would make a very enjoyable holiday that we are sure many would avail themselves of. We throw out the suggestion of a one days meeting in a friendly spirit, feeling convinced it would prove to the interest of all concerned, and we but hope it will be received as given. As to the racing, it was fully up to the average of uncountrv Spring meetings, though the Waitaki ' Wild Boy” horse—abigraking animal, 17 hands high, and with strength sufficient to carry any impost that might be accorded him—had it all his own way in those events he start"d for, excepting the Hurdle Race, and it was pretty freely hinted that that was in his hands, had he not swerved (?) round one of the hurdles, and thus given the chance to Gamecock and Nancy Lee to take the lead. During this race some little difference arose between the riders of the two last-named horses, and coming up the straight they pretty freely used their whips over each other, and for which little escapade they were most justly disqualified. The booth was conducted on behalf of Mrs Russell, and we should imagine she had no cause to grumble at the returns. Mr H. Campbell acted as judge, and Mr Chalmers as starter, while Messrs Ewing, Tobin, and the other stewards, and Mr. J. Cay ford, as secre t ary, performed their duies with satisfaction to all. The detailed statement of the running is follows: - First Hay. Maiden Plate, of 10 sovs., for all horses that have never won public money, weight for age, on" mile. O. Robertson’s ch m Florence 1 (A. M’Kay) H. Partridge’s e m Mayflower (Owner) 2 A. Robertson’s Prophet (W. Barry) 3 M‘Donald’s Mechanic, Dove’s Lively Lady, and Wilson’s Sir Garnet also started. Though Mayflower put an a spurt at the half-mile, and raced all through gamely, the race was always in the hands of Florence who won by some lengths. Hack Race of 10 sovs, for all horses that have never won public money; list up; one mile. H. Partridge’s Mayflower (Owner) 1 1 D. MulUn’s Fenian (Lawrence) 2 Prophet and Bridget also rati. j Mayflower had this race iujhand from the | star* and won easily. Albert Town Handicapl of 15 sovs ; one mile. G. Robertson’sb g Wild Boy, aged, list sib. fOwner) 1 C. M’Kenna’s gg Haricot,aged, Bst 121b 2 (Ward) L. Murphy's Marksman, 7st 71b 3 (Anderson) FT. S. Thompson’s Nancy Lee, 7st 0 £. Le f evre’s Stake, 7st 2lb 0 A M’Knv’s Horatio, 7st 51b 0 J. Hardies I handy, 7st 121b 0 This was a waiting race till the half mile, | when Haricot, followed by Wild Boy. cut through the leaders. A good race then ensued, or rather the bay was keut roystcring alongside tbe grey till the distance, when Robertson let. him out and he won easily. Marksman third, the others nowhere. Shepherds’ Race, of £7 10s, for all shepherds horses that have never won public money; amateur riders ;II atone up; one mile. F. TJiquhart’s Antelope (D Urquhart) 1 T Wilson’s Sir Garnet 2 H. M'Leod’s Gentle Annie 3 To the great surprise of everybody, Antelope, a son of old Roebuck, took the lead and won hands down. Second Day. Handicp Hurdle Race, of 15 sovs, 11 over six flights of hurdles. H. Tobin’s g g Gamecock, syrs, 10st Mb 1 (T. M'Kay) H. S. Thompson’s b m Nancv Lee syrs 10st (Baliantyne) 2 G, Robertson’s b g Wild Boy, aged, 13st 81h (Owner) 3 L. Mnrphy’s Marksman, lOat 51b 0 T, Muir’s Reindeer, 10st 0 Haricot, list; and Snowdrift, 10st lOlbs ; did not accept. A very good start was effected and all took the first hurdle except Marksman, who could not he got to face it till the others had negotiated the second and were well up to the third. Here Wild Boy and Nancy Lee had the lead with Gamecock close up, all three took the hurdle and a smut race ensued for the fourth which Wild Bey swerved past, the other two took it and raced up to and over the fifth and sixth hurdles side by side, here there was some little difference between the jocks and they liberally cut each other with their whips till Gamecock forged ahead and won a hard earned race. The rider of Nancy Lee entered a protest against Gamecock for missing No. 3 hurdle- After evidence was heard, however, it was dismissed. The stewards then took ’into consideration the conduct of the lackeys—T. McKay and Baliantyne—for their behaviour in coming up the straight, and ultimately disqualified them. Shorts, of £7 10s, half-mile heats, without dismounting. For all horses that have never won a £lO prize ; no weight under 9 stone. G. Robertson’s b g Jnggler (A M’Kay) 1 1 Four others also started. Won without any trouble. Wanaka Jockey Club Haw dicap, 0 f 25 sovs. One mile and a-half. G. Robertson’s b g Wild Boy, aged, 12st 1 (Owner) T. Muir’s r g Reindeer, 6st 121b 2 (H. M’Laren) C. M’Kenna’a gg Haricot, aged, Bst 121bs 3 (Ward) A M’Kay’s Horatio. 7st 41b 0 L. Mnrphy’s Marksman, 7sl 12Ih 0 There is only one way of describing this race, by saying that Wild Boy had the race in hand whenever he liked, and when the time came ho rollicked in as he liked and won the money. Reindeer, another son of Roebuck, being second,

Hospital Race, rider to ha presented with a whip. H. Tobin'sggGamecock, (H,M’Laren) t £9 12s fid was collected on the ground and presented to the Cromwell hospital. Consolation Handicap, of 5 sovs. T. Muir’s r g Reindeer, Bst 121b 1 (M’Laren) E Lefevre’s b m Stake, aged, Bst 2 (Monkley) J. Hardie’s b g Dandy, aged, Sat 3 (Boyle)