OTAGO.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 61, 28 August 1862, Page 6 (Supplement)

OTAGO.

THE MATCH FOR £6OO A SIDE BETWEEN FALCON AND KAURI GUM. The three mile race between Mr. Julius’s bay gelding Kauri Gum and Mr. Townsend’s bay gelding Falcon, for AOOO a-side, came oft' yesterday on the Dunedin race course. The match, which was made some time since, has excited a considerable amount of interest, and a large sum of money, besides the amount of the stakes, changed hands on the occasion. Kauri Gum, being a New' Zealand horse, was pretty well backed by the Otagoniau settlers, while Falcon found backers principally among the \ ictorians, there was, howerer, an impression that the distance was too great for Falcon and there is no doubt, if the distance had been two miles instead of three, that he would have been the favourite. As it was, previous to the race coming off, the betting was in favour of Kauri Gum, rising from six to four to two to one, and in some cases three to one. Both horses have been in careful training since the match was made, and, although neither of them is a very first racer, when they‘were stripped they presented a very respectable appearance, and did every credet to their trainers. This remark especially applies to Falcon, who looked by many degrees the more thorough racer of the tw'o, and was undoubtedly in better condition. The morning was very fine when we started for the course. There had been a pretty heavy frost the previous night, which had considerably bettered the roads. Still, in some places the horses had to plough their w'ay through a perfect slough of despond. Notwithstanding this drawback, a stranger to New Zealand scenery would have been charmed with the many beautiful scenes and landscapes that presented themselves on the way to the race course. A remarkable feature on the road is the sudden variations that take place in the character of the scenery, and even in the nature of the climate—now undulating till and glade, with the sun smiling upon some rustic homestead, and fifty yards on, deep mires of mud, the view on each side shut out by frowning hills, and overlooked by a cloudy sky ! There were comparatively few on the road; half a dozen straggling horsemen and a buggy or two, either stuck in or wearily plodding their way through mud, comprising, it appeared, almost the whole company who were bent upon the day’s enjoyment At Silvcrstream, however, the scene became more lively, and the landscape all around was dotted with enterprising pleasure seekers. The country round about Silver-stream is perhaps the most attractive within a dozen miles of the town, and the winding rivulet itself, with its shining limpid water and clear pebbly bottom, looked remarkably lively on this occasion. The race, which -was understood to come

oil between half-past uue and two o’clock did not take place until half-past three, the intervening time being employed in settling the preliminaries. Mr. J. Maclean was appointed judge, Mr. J. Stevenson starter, and Messrs. Mackenzie and Sydney James, stewards. Weights, 10 st. 7 ih. At about three o’clock Kauri Gum ami Falcon made their appearance on the course. On stripping, as has been stated above Falcon presented a much better appearance than Kauri Gum. He had evidently been carefully and judiciously trained, was altogether in splendid fettle, and did not have, an ounce of spare flesh about him. Still he did not look quite strong enough for a three mile race. On the other baud, Kauri Gum looked rather flabby, had more llesh about him than Falcon, but was evidently by far the stronger horse. Kauri Gum, ridden by R. Kao, (pink jacket, white cap) took the first preliminary canter. Falcon was ridden by Tom Hayes (black jacket, red sleeves and cap). After a few minutes delay, and one false start the word was given, and the horses started, Kauri Gum leading by a couple of lengths. Falcon full of running, but held back by his jockey. On passing the gate Kauri was still leading. Falcon lying close up on his flank, and the same position Avas held for the first two miles. During this portion of the race there was an evident feeling that Falcon had no chance of winning, and Kauris backers were proportionately exuberant ; but after passing the judge’s post the second time, Hayes, avlio bad held bis horse bard in, challenged Kauri Gum, and for a third of a mile led by tivo or three lengths. The excitement Avas uoav growing fast, and bets Avere ottered of 20 to 5 on Falcon. Before, lioAvever, they passed the gate for the last time, Kauri Gum Avas again leading, Falcon, evidently fagged, unable to answer to the call made upon him. In the straight running home, Kauri Gum increased his distance, and came in, amidst loud cheers, an easy Avinner by half a-dozen lengths. Time, seven minutes, five and a half seconds.