HOKITIKA RACES.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1093, 31 December 1877, Page 3

HOKITIKA RACES.

Second Day. [by telegraph. per peess agency.] Hokitika, December 29. The races to-day were well attended, and the several events were keenly contested. The following were the results ; Hurdle Handicap, 35 sovs. Cassidy’s Lunatic ... ... 1 Westland Handicap, 70 sovs. Lunn’s Maritana... ... ... 1 Cameron’s Native... ... ... 2 Selling Race, 50 sovs. Lunn’s Bat ... ... ... 1 Goldfields Handicap, 60 sovs. Cameron’s Native... ... ... 1 Lunn’s Phantom ... ... ... 2 Cassidy’? Elfin King ... ... 3 Betting—Phantom against the field.

The following account of the first day’s racing appears in the “ West Coast Times — The Trial Stakes was the first event on the card, Elfin King being made a pretty hot favorite, though Merry Monarch and Colleen had both supporters. Corinthian was merely started to make the running for his stable companion, but he shaped very well, and will, one of these days, make his mark. No one could expect more from a baby than Corinthian performed, and as he grows in years he will take a better position. Colleen was hoped great things of, but would not run a yard, and was hopelessly out of the race from the first. Elfin King justified the confidence of his backers by winning tolerably easily-

The Kumara Handicap brought out four starters, but Maritana proved too good for her opponents, though Kensington made a good fight for second place. Falcon was left at the post, and lost fully a hundred yards before he could be set going. When he did start he made up his ground wonderfully, but the little daughter of Traducer could not be caught, and won with comparative ease. Colleen also started, and having had a good jacketing in the intervals, condescended to run somehow.

The Selling Handicap race attracted four entries, and was won by the top weight with the most ridiculous case. The winner was a horse named the Bat, carrying 9st. lOlbs., and he had for his followers poor old Wide-a-Wake, Briton, and Roaney. It is quite time Wide-a-Wake was exonerated from racing, for, though good as gold, he has more than served his apprenticeship in hack races, and had hardly a leg to stand on when pulled up yesterday. The Bat is one of the best of the “has beens,” and was sold after the race for £2B, Mr Keech being his purchaser. In the Hokitika Handicap, Native was made a strong favorite, and, indeed, his condition seemed to justify it. Phantom, however, by sheer gameness won the race out of the fire, fairly tiring out her opponent. Rowlands rode her excellently, and Mr Lunn may, in a great degree, thank his jockey for his victory. Merry Monarch is never likely to distinguish himself, if his yesterday’s performances are to bo accepted as a test of his value. Possibly if Ins owner tries him over timber he may be more fortunate than he is likely to be on the flat.

The District Handicap had five entries: Colleen, Native, Kensington, and Falcon. Lancaster was on the ground and entered, but liis owners could not find a feather weight to ride him, and he did not show. Colleen w r as not started either, so the race was left to three. This was thought to be a gift to Native, but the pot boiled over awfully, Falcon running as game as a pebble, and winning an excellent race from the crack. There was great joy amongst those who hailed from Taffyland at the success of the ancient Briton, Jemmy Evans, of the Red Lion Hotel, and the result of no other race was more warmly welcomed.