TUAPEKA RACES.

Evening Star, Issue 3126, 25 February 1873, Page 2

TUAPEKA RACES.

The Tuapeka annual races realised my prediction but in part, the unqualified success not having been attained in a particular that is, in ray opinion, the most essential requirement at a race meeting. I allude to the event known as the Handicap Hurdle Race, wherein two horses, viz., Tamhouriui and Mod ora, were the only competitors. In this race it was notorious before the race that an arrangement had been made between the respective owners, and the result was corroborative of the report. The two horses, after the start, came along the straight running in fine form, and at the first leap Mcdora cleared the hurdles like a bird, hut Tamhouriui, instead of even facing the fence, turned, or was pujlod off to the right amongst the crowd. The jockey looking round as if puzzled what next to do, was encouraged by the crowd to try back, and a second or two after it was seal that Medora had baulked at the second leap throwing her rider, thus giving Tamtiourini every chance to win, if such was intended; instead, however, of uiakb'g an effort to win the money ami laurels, the horse was taken off the course, and Medora left to make a walk over. Upon Medora afterwards arriving at the winning post, the opinion of the British public was unmi-takeably expressed in groans and hisses. As a faithful reporter, I am bound to say that the comments made upon the occasion were in strong condemnation of such practices being permitted by the committee, who, it was pretty generally said, should have disqualified both horse and jokey. 1 presume they should be the best judges of the matter, but it appears certain that, unless collusions of this kind bo put down with a strong hand, > hor c racing, and its nobler attributes, will soon be amongst the events of the past, and only encouraged by thimble-riggers, bookmakers, ct hoc genuft omne. I beard one highly respectable (?) owner of race horses say that Tambourini’s jockey was quite right not to risk such a valuable horse twice at a leap for so little money. Ergo : Why was he entered for the race if the ''stakes yyere not worth running for ? Finn a v. Flying Handicap of 40 sovs. ; distance, one mile. Nosworthy'a Hatred (Rae) ... ... 1 Edgar’s Empress (Malone) ~, 2 Five others started. Hatred took the lead from the start, and maintained it throughout the race, wirmiuo by half a length. Time, I min. 49] secs. Jocii-iiV Club Handicap of 100 sove. ; distance, one mils. Hatred ... 1 Burgundy ... .... 2 Tambourini 3 Atlas and Misfortune also ran. Empress was entered- bpt scratched. At the start, • Has and Hatreql jumped away'with the had, closely followed by Tawbouriuji and Historian*, Burgundy lying behind sooje

lengths. Misfortune was evidently out of the race after the first half-mile. With this exception the positions were maintained to within h’lf-a-mi!e of home, when Hatred retired and Tambourini went up to Allas, and a splendid race ensued until coming into the straight running, when the rider of Tam hour ini succeeded in running Atlas off the course, thereby allowing his other horse, Hatred, to come to the front, closely followed by Burgundy. This event was characterised by similar unfairness to that recorded of the Handicap Hun \\i Race yesteulav, and demands the strongest condemnation by those who take an inter st in such mat ters ; since, smart as jockeys and owners of horses may be, there are plenty of outsiders with eyes to see and brains to judge when a race is being run fairly or otherwise, a.id once the public is convinced that their money is not being properly contested for, the stakes on future occasions will have to be provided V>y fKo owners and riders of racehorses themselves. Hack Hurdle Race of 25 sovs ; twice round the course ; 8 leaps, 3ft Gin high. No weight under 10st. Blackbird {Edgar) ... .. 1 Palcou (Haynes) 2 Little Tan (O’Brien) 3 For this race four horses came to the front. At the first hurdle all the horses baulked except Little Dan, who got well away with the lead, but was soon caught by Blackbird, Banjo, and Falcon closely following, This position was maintained during the first round, until arriving at the jump opposite the Grand Stand, when Banjo fell, giving his rider a severe shaking. Falcon again baulked, and Blackbird getting a strong lead, and being admirably ridden by Edgar, who displayed considerable skill and judgment, was not caught again, malgre anathemas loud and deep uttered by the other riders. Publicans’ Handicap of 50 sovs ; distance, miles. Wild boy (J. Cotton) - • • - 1 Malice (Derrct) - - - - - 2 Meclora (Gaunt) 3 Rufus also ran. This was a well contested race, Wildboy winning by half-a-length, after a severe contest with Malice. Burgundy and Atlas Were also entered, but did not run. Consolation Handicap, of 30 sovs; dis--14 miles Edgar’s impress ... ... ... ... 1 Nos worthy's Malice ... ... ..; 2 Richard’s Misfortune 3 Catapult also ran. This was the best contested race of the day. At the fall of the fian Empress jumped to the front, with Malice on her quarter till coming up to the straight, when Empress under the good guidance and excellent jockeyship of young Malone, drew away from Malice, and won by a couple of long hs.— Bruce Herald's correspondent.