SPORTING.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 160, 9 December 1874, Page 3

SPORTING.

WELLINGTON RACES. [i' 'rom a correspondent of the Press.] The Wellington races for ]B7< are over, and passed off well, and the stewards deserve every credit for the painstaking anxiety they manifested to make the most of the meeting. The grand stand was in good order, having been recently painted. The lawn in front was nicely paled, and is of a good size, forming a very nice promenade for ladies. A good sized saddling paddock, substantially paled and painted, was in goodorder, and properly kept. There is also a good stewards' room, weighing room, and jockeys' room, and in fact every thing to facilitate the comfort of those interested in racing. The grand stand will accommodate more people than Christuhurch one, and I think is on a better plan, and the charges moderate. The course was in very fair order, considering the time the stewards have had at their disposal to make it, but a good deal cau be done yet to make the running ground better, as it is in places very uneven, and requires to have the small lumps taken off with a spade and put into the hollows, and in many places to cart a light top dressing and to harrow it well into the hollows, would be. a great improvement; and if the run in was made about a distance longer, the course would be one of the best in New Zealand. I believe it is the intention of the stewards to do all they can to make this course attractive to owners of horses, so that the best animals may be run upon it without unnecessary risk of breaking down. On the first day there could not be less than 4000 people present ; many people went by train, and good order and regularity prevailed, the officials doing their duty thoroughly, and no confusion occurred. Only a little more punctuality was needed. The road was well patronized with every conceivable conveyance, from the four-in-haud drag to Cobb's heavily laden coaches. I did not hear of any accident to anybody, which I am somewhat surprised at, as the lane from the railway station to the course is very narrow, in fact it is but a lane, and so narrow that two vehicles cannot pass each other; but to assist the traffic the stewards had had filled up the ditches in several places, so that the slow conveyances could pull out and let the fast or.es pass. The racing commenced with a Maiden Plate, which was won by Lough Reagh, a two-year-old, by Tiaducer, but on returning to weigh a protest was entered by the riders of Hangi and Princess Mary, It was urged that the colt had gone on the wrong side of the post, and from the way Richards allowed the colt to pass him, taking no notice of him, sitting quite still upon his mare, and only watching Princess Mary, strengthens the belief that the colt did ruu on the wrong side of the post. The stewards, however, after investigating the case, gave it to the colt, very much to the disgust of the jockeys, who declare most positively that the colt did not keep the course:. 1 cannot believe otherwise than that the colt did go on the wrong side, as it hardly seems probable that a jockey of Richru'ds's experience would make such a foolish objection. The evidence of the other boy goes far to confirm this, but the ground was so hard that without very careful investigation, it would be difficult to see the footprints of a light colt. The Cup was the next race, for which three started—viz, Tambonriui, Guy Fawkcs, and Premier (late Revoke colt). Tarn was (he favorite at starting, but many fancied Guy Fawkcs if he did not bolt. His condition, however, was not quite the thing, for he was on the stout side, and looked as if a couple of sweats and a few fast gallops would have done him good. The Premier was trained to perfection, and I never saw him look so w 11, but that fatal disease sticks to him still—viz, the " slows," otherwise, what a game honest colt he is. Guy Favvkes was ridden by that promising light-weight, A. Lyford, who managed to get him round the turns in good style, by the assistance of the Premier, for they tan the first mile and a half as if in couples, the Premier on the outside, old Tarn some twenty lengths behind, and it looked as if he would never catch them; but at the end of a mile and half the two colts had evidently raced

each other to a standstill, and they fell back to Tarn, who came on with the running, and won in the greatest ease, as at the finish both colts were hardly able to raise a gallop. The yelling Race was a very hollow affair, as Tui could not race at all, having hurt himself the day previously in his quartern, and it was folly to have started him, therefore Lurline the Second won as she liked. A Hack Race followed, but it was a very bad one. The Provincial Plate was a good race, and was won by that honest colt Premier in 2min oilsee; Glenary (who is out of Su ; ';ii' Plum, that raced in Christchurch some years ago, by Traducer) being second. She is a compact filly, but is short in her quarter, and appi'nrs to have inher.ted her dam's Mightiness. Princess Mary is by Uavensworth out of Regina, and a nice little mare she is ; she lacks size, but is as game as possible. Nanakia is a fine big horse, but with a bad temper, and will only try when in the humor. He is also by Traducer. and would be a good stamp for the "stick" business if he had a good temper. This ended the first day's racing. The weather on the second day's racing was quite the opposite to the lir<st day's, for about 4 a.in it commenced to rain, and in gcod earnest; but. as the wind was N.W. many predicted that it would clear up, and such was the opinion of the stewards; consequently many people started to the course with some of the stewards; but about twelve o'clock the wind suddenly ehanged to the south-east, and a regular downpour came on, with driving wind enough to cut you in two; and as there appeared no signs of it abating, the stewards then on the ground declared there would bo no racing, cmsequently the horses were sent home ; but on the arrival of other stewards an angry discussion took place about the policy of putting the races off, and had it not been for the horses being sent home I believe the races would have taken place, but that carried the day. Many who had come and paid for admission to the course were vexed at the conclusion, and as the stewards left the course a loud groaning and hissing took place, but " All is well that ends well" for on the Saturday, a more beautiful morning could not be desired, there was no dust and the course was nicely softened, and the sun shone out without a cloud to darken its rays, and with a nice soft sea breeze blowing, a more delightful day lor racing could not be desired. The couise was well patronised, and the stand was well tilled again with ladies. The racing commenced with the Derby, for which Ngaro, Remnant, Guy Faux, and Nannakia came to the front. Even money was offered on Ngaro. Remnant was only started iu the event of any mishap with Ngaro, as it was quite on the cards that she might be run off the course by either of the colts, not to mention the chance of her repeating her Christchurch vagaries, bnt I believe the marc has no vice but was only afraid of the people at Christchurch, as she ran as straight as an arrow on this occasion. The race is easily told, as Ngaro, Remnant, and Guy Faux jumped away together, but the other colt would not be persuaded to leave the post until the others had got fully a distance a-head ; he then started, but opposite the stand he stopped, and could not be persuaded to go any further. Here Richards took Ngaro to the front by ten lengths, she was never afterwards caught and won easily. Guy Faux securing second place by sufferance from Remnant, as Lyford's orders were to stop Remnant directly he saw Ngaro clear of her horses to pull up, but the mare would not be denied, and raced all the way in company with Guy Fawkes, and it was only in coming up the straight that Lyford could stop her, and by so doing In lost second money. I fully believe she could have won the race had she erone for it. She ran a much better mare than she did in Christchurch, and I think Mr Redwood got a good bargain when he purchased her. The Hurdle race was a farce, as they are generally now, only two coming to the front, and any od is on Tommy Dodd, who won as he liked. Unless better fields can be got for these races, the sooner they are discarded from the racing programme the better. The Handicap brought out seven runners, and considerable speculation ensued thereon. Remnant was the favorite, in spite of her race for the Derby. Premier, Princess Mary, and Ngaro was also backed at about 3 to 1, 10 to 1 against Parewhenua, who had to top weight, Sst 91b. Ago:d start all getting away together, and the first to show in front were Remnant and Parewhenua, with Ngaro in close company. In this order they ran for the first mile, when Ngaro challenged Remuant for the right of place, but she could not shake the little mare off ; in the meantime Brimner eased Parewhenua, and (lulled him back a couple of lengths. .Rounding the top turn, as soon as Ngaro was beaten, he went up to Remnant, raced her for a few strides, obtained a clear lead, and was never headed afterwards, and won with the greatest ease, Remuant second, Ngaro third, and, considering the nature of the course, a fast race in 2 min 50.} sees. The winner certainly looked as I never saw him look before, for he had plenty of muscle, looked bright in his coat, and altogether so much improved that it would have taken about the best horse en the turf in New Zealand to have beaten him to-day, and this race fully justifies the confidence the stable had in him at Christchurch for the Metropolitan, and had he not have struck his leg in the race he must have won. For the Consolation Rangi was the favorita. Princess Mary, with a light impost of osfc 21b, and that clever light weight Johnny Walker on her back, was much fancied, but the winner turned up in True Blue, who took the lead, and was never headed. Rangi ran very badly, pulled up lame in her hind leg, and throughout the race could not raise .•«, gallop. Another hack race wound up the meeting, which I think everybody enjoyed. I cannot let this meeting pass without remarking that I consider that the Wellington races will be the most popular in the colony, as horses and visitors can come from so many provinces with so little trouble and expense, and it is quite evident that the club are determined not to be beaten by any province in the amount of added money. From the very nature of the province the ouly sport that can be enjoyed by Wellington is racing, audthey seem thoroughly alive to the amusement. Twentynine years ago "Wellington had the best races in New Zealand, but from various causes the sport was allowed to die out, the chief difficulty being getting a proper course, but that now being secured permanently, and under the management of the new club, I look forward to seeing an autumn meeting for one day at the least, and two good daya' racing in Bpring with good prizes.