THE AUCKLAND RACES.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 29, 16 January 1862, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE AUCKLAND RACES.

First Day. The Anniversary Races came off at the Course Ellerslie, on Wednesday and Thursday last. The attendance was unusually slack, but that may be partly accounted for by the state of the weather, which was most unpropitious, blowing hard from South-west with frequent and heavy squalls of rain. For the first race, the Maiden Plate of £BO, one mile and a half, there were eight entries, McGhee’s Butterfly, Watt’s Telegram, Foley’s Juno, Selby’s Fawn, Taylor’s Woodbine, Warburton’s Birmingham, Rogers’ Sam Slick, and Macfarlane’s Vision. The running lay between Sam Slick and Woodbine, Sam polishing off his competitor who came in a good second. For the Ladies’ Purse, of £SO, two miles, gentlemen riders, the four following started—Hargreaves’ b. m. Deception, Anderson’s br. g. Balsam, Mc.Gee’s b. g. Billy Brown, and Macfarlane’s br. m. Gazelle. This race was won easily by Deception, who came out in tip top condition ; Billy Brown took the second place. The Inkeeper’s Purse, of £SO, one mile and a half, was contested by Te Hapuku’s br. g. Hurricane, Rogers’ b. g. Paganini, Anderson’s b. g. Bill Downey, and Macfarlane’s b. m. Barbara. Hurricane, who came to the post with a high reputation, disappointed his admirers sadly, for at the start, he commenced buck-jumping at a furious ■rate, throwing his rider, and being thrown out of the race before he could mount again. Won easily by Barbara, who was greatly admired, Bill Downey taking the second, and Paganini the third place. For the Scurry Stakes of £ls, with entrances added, one mile heats, there were three horses started, and thus placed— Mc.Gee’s gr. g. Little Dick 1 1 King’s ch. g. Wee Tammy 22 Anderson’s b. g. Bill Downey. 3 This was an excellent race, notwithstanding that there was some difficulty in starting Little Dick for the second heat. The last event of this day was for the Farmer's Purse of £SO, one mile and three quarters, for which the following started—McGee’s ch. g. Butterfly, \V att’s b. h. Telegram, Hargreaves’ b. ra. Deception, and Macfarlanc’s b. h. Vision.. This was an excellent race, taken easily by Deception, Butterfly coming in second. In the running home, the saddle turned, and Vision’s rider was thrown at the very time when he appeared to be making good head way. Th sports concluded with two or three extemporised matches for a side saddle—a cup—and such like. These'matchcs were closely and keenly contested, and were not the least amusing of the races of the day. Sdcond Day. The first race on the card was the Maiden Produce Stakes, £SO, one mile, w-hich was taken by Rogers’ gr, g. Sam Slick, Taylor’s b. m. Woodbine, and Foley’s gr. m. Juno, taking the second and third places. The next race —the great event of the “meet”— the race w hich, in spite of wind and weather, had attracted sporting men, both from town and country, was for the Metropolitan Plate of £IOO, three miles. To the consternation and disgust of the general public, the Judge was instructed by the Stewards to notify that To Hapuku’s Hurricane, and Mr. Hargreaves’ mare Deception were both scratched, and that Mr. Macfarlane’s mare Barbara w-ould walk over. The Auckland public are proverbially a meek and patient public, but this ahnouncement exceeded their powers of sufferance, and more especially when it became known that Mr. Robert Graham, one of the Stewards, who had started all the previous races, positively and peremptorily refused, under all the peculiar circumstances of the case, to start Barbara on her proposed solitary airing. The crowd very naturally soon became excited and the language bandied from lip to lip was of the plainest—Barbara to have the Metropolitan, Deception the Garrison Stakes being pronounced to be the arrangement, and that to the utter preclusion of the anticipated sport for which the public had so liberally subscribed and on which so many heavy bets were depending. The disgust engendered in the public mind did honour to what was insolently termed the “ Auckland Mob.”—That Moh comprised many of our oldest and most respectable settlers and sportsmen, who felt that if the Anniversary Races w-ere tamely allowed to be so shut up, Racing in Auckland must cease, as nothing would induce the public to put their hands into their pockets in future.

The Metropolitan thus forcibly disposed of the next event was the Hurdle Race, £3O, twice round the course, four hurdles 3J feet high. Three started, McGee’s gr. g. Little Dick, Keightley’s hr. g, Hump, and Lorrigan’s ch. g, Johnny. Dick had a bad start, but he soon recovered lost ground coming in first, Hump second. For the Garrison Plate, £BO, two miles, gentlemen riders, there were eight entries, but the only three placed were Mr. Hargreaves’ mare Deception, I—Major Nelson’s b. h. Snake, 2 —Mr. .McGee’s Billy Brown, 3, From the loud and angry protests uttered against Deception, it was

feared there might be some attempt made to prevent her from running. Such, however, was not the case, the only further indulgence of popular indignation venting itself in bitter bootings as she came to the weighing stand. The Consolation Stakes £ls, entrance added, were taken by Major Nelson’s Snake, beating Rogers’ Paganini, 2nd ; King’s Wee Tammy, 3rd; Absoloro’s Johnny, Taylor’s Woodbine, and McGee’s Planet—not placed. The JP oitOEo Handicap of £5 each for all winners, with £2O added, one mile, concluded the events of tho day. The three following started;— Mr. Hargreaves’ Deception, Mr. Macfarlane’s Barbara, and Mr. Rogers’ Sam Slick. The mares carried 9st. 91b., the horse Bst. 91b. Deception won easily, Barbara coming in second. There were several other matches got up, but course rapidly cleared, and thus terminated the Auckland Races of 18G2.—Abridged from NetoZealander, January 4. (From the Auclcland Register.J We regret, in common with our contemporaries the Southern Cross and New Zealander , to have to record the almost unprecedented occurrences in relation to the Metropolitan Plate of £IOO. After the first race, on Thursday, had been disposed of, the Judge proclaimed that he had been instructed by the Stewards to notify that Hurricane and Deception were both scratched, and that Barbara would walk over the course. After a short time, murmurs were heard on every side, and expressions of foul play were loudly and fiercely vented. To the match for the Metropolitan an unusual degree of interest was attached, and on its issue heavy bets depended. There were but three entries, Hurricane a Maori horse from Napier, of whom the highest expectations had been formed—Deception, a New Zealand mare belonging to Mr. Hargraves—and Barbara, an English imported mare trained by Mr. Macfarlane. Hurricane is said to have got lamed on Wednesday, his withdrwal was consequently regarded as an untoward disappointment ; but, with respect to Deception, she, it was publicly asserted, (and we believe without contradiction) was kept back to insure the Garrison Plate of £BO, for which she was entered. Upon these statements being made to Mr. Robert Graham, one of the Stewards, who had started all the previous races, he positively declined to bring forward Barbara, for a walk over, and vacated his post—public indignation was now at the boiling point, and bitter language was bandied about. At this juncture, Mr. Macfarlane stated publicly that he could not compell Mr. Hargraves to run Deception; but that he himself was perfectly willing that the race should be postponed for two or three hours, and that every trained horse should be entered against Barbara. This proposition was either not entertained, or not acted on, for Bai-bara being brought out to walk over, she was immediately surrounded by a crowd and prevented from doing so.

i 1 or two hours at least all further proceedings were stayed. One of the stewards giving notice that, unless Barbara were permitted so walk over, the races were at jvn end. Some time after this, Barbara was again saddled and under the escort of a mounted guard made three circuits of the course, charging each time past the Grand Stand and Judges Chair in the most furious and dangerous manner. Nothing could exceed the general indignation which these proceedings created, and the feeling was still further aggravated by stigmatizing the public that had supplied the means of carrying out the races as “ The Auckland Mob.” Deception ran for and took the Garrison Plate ; and subsequently in a Forced Handicap against Barbara and Sam Slick, which she also won, having been started unexpectedly, and before the crowd, who loudly declared they would prevent her from running, were aware of the fact. These are actions upon which it is needless to comment. They speak for themselves. It must be borne in mind, however, that the Auckland Anniversary Races, differ materially from other races, where the funds are provided by a Club of Corporation, and where the Stewards are appointed to dispose of their own, according to their own prescribed rules and regulations. Let us see how they manage in England. We quote from the Newmarket (English) Rules: —“ At a meeting of the Jockey Club held at Newmarket on Wednesday, in the Second October Meeting, 1847, it was resolved—‘ That, in future, when a plate given from the funds of the Jockey Club is walked over for at Newmarket, only half the amount shall be paid,’ ” Now, the ways and means of the Auckland Anniversary Races arc raised by the “ Auckland Mob,” are not subject to “ Club” law, but placed at the disposal of the so called “ Stewards,” who have never before given cause for objection, but who after all are but the mere dispensers of a fair public prize for a fair public race. This is the light in which the public regard their annual trust. This is the manner in which the Regatta Committee discharge theirs ; and unless the Anniversary Races are henceforward to cease, the public will demand that Races and Regattas be conducted in the same straightforward and ’bovc board fashion. Subscriptions are given not to aggrandise this man, that horse, or such a boat, but, on a day of general holiday’ to insure the utmost amount of fair and legitimate sport. And, to this end, the Regatta Committees invariably stipulate that so many boats shall start, else no race. In this the Turf may take a beneficial lesson from the Ocean. Fancy one of our crack yachts making a solitary cruise up and down harbour for the small consideration of One Hundred Pounds publicly subscribed for a public race.