WAIRAU SPORTS, 1881.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume III, Issue 329, 28 December 1881, Page 2

WAIRAU SPORTS, 1881.

The above Sports were held on the Wairr.u j race-course on Boxing Day, but were not j by any means so well attended as was anti- j cipated. Though every one of the horse 1 races was well oontesto 1 there appeared to j be a certain amount of tameness about the ! day’s proceeding.!. The Committee had . not bee n able to obtain permission to use : the totalis itor pure!:/, ' d a few days pre- 1 •• ion sly, as according to the Act, leave can • only bo granted to a recognised Racing j Club—in other words, gambling is now 1 prohibited to the general public, and only 1

licensed on certain conditions, strongly in favor of the “ upper ten.” An impression also appeared to prevail to the ellect that private betting was likewise an infraction of the law, and as the police were instructed to keep a sharp lookout for “sweeps ” sporting men will rea lily believe that the day’s sport’’ was very “ stale, flat, and unprofitable.” Tr is true, we believe, that some few sweeps were drawn oil' in spite of the vigilance of the police, but those who joined in ‘lmse constituted themselves a secret society for the time being and held an emergency meeting in some retired eorm r. having first appointed one of their number an outer guard ” with instructions to keep a sliarji eye upon the gentlemen in blue. But of the excitement that was wont to accompany racing there was absolutely none, and it is safe to predict that if the present law is not materially altered before long racing will die out. The big sweeps still go on in a form which enables men like North to perpetrate even greater swindles than ever, while in attempting to put them down our Legislature has taken all the real interest out of race m ■■• tings, and the public mo beginning to feel (hat there is a limit to .State interference which, h is been passed by the late Parliament. Had it not been for this drawback the Boxing Day Sports would have been fairly successful, as the weather was beautifully fine, the racing good, and though the attendance was not large still it is an open question 'whether many more would not have at tended had it been understood that perfect freedom of action would be allowed on the course. The publicans’ booths under the .supervision of Mrd. Bury were well conducted and he apparently drove a profitable trade. Here again, however, the effects of recent legislation were felt, for though the racing did not conclude till just 7 o’clock, the police, acting under instructions, closed the bars at d'.’li). Owing to the want of betting excitement probably, there was \ery little drunkenness throughout the day. Only one or two lights varied the dreary monotony, and these wo believe had their origin in a pure necessity for .something to do. Mr McArtncyL refreshment booth did a brisk business all day long, and as Parliament has not yet defined the quantity of lemonade a thirsty soul may imbibe, he was enabled to keep open till the conclusion. The catering for the lunch was undertaken by Mr A. Mason, who provided an excellent, repast in the grand stand diningroom. The only amusement.* 'oh the ground were “ skittles ” and an “American Shooting Gallery,” each of which was well patronised. Herr Norberg’s Brass Band supplied excellent mii-ic throughout the day, in fact we h tv.; s ;!d , n if ever h xir l it to hotter advantage. Mr !i. Dodson acted as judge, and his decisions wore unquestioned. The onerous duties of .Secretary wore carried out by Mr Mb F. Tony, ami Mr 0. Elliott piesided at the scales. As starter, Mr!’. It. Mcßae was a thorough success, while Mr J. Page was unwearied in the exercise of his duties as Clerk of the Course. Messrs G. Elliott and T. Horton acted as handicappers. and we heard very little complaint against the weights declared. The only accident occurred in the H ick Hurdle Race, when Orient and Marksman fell at the fifth flight, throwiiigtheir riders. Both horses and riders, however, escaped serious injury, and in a very short time the latter were mounted again. The first event was the M\idkx Foot R.m 100 yards. Entrance, os. Ist prize, L2 ; 2nd, Li. M. Clark ... ... ... I J. Moran ... ... ... g

l A good start was rliV.dcl, but Moran, ■ who ran barefoot, fell behind when nearing i home, and Clark breasted the tape about j two yards in advance of him. ; Han'imc-ai* JfntPi.K Rai/k. - A swo-p- ---| stakes of L! for starters, v. itli LI7: added. Distance, I. 1 , miles, over seven flights of hurdles. Bft. Bin. high. 'Nominations, 10s : acceptances. 10s. J. Robinson's Blue Bell, !)st, (A, Herd) I A. Dillon’s Zoc, Ost, (Empson) ... 2 j .1. Barry’s Hero, Hist 101b.', (Bradcock) Dick and Lucy (Hitters also ran. The latter swerved off the course at the second hurdle and Dick followed suit at the third jump. Dick crept up afterwards, but the remainder of the race was between the three placed horses, each of which took its jumps in splendid style. Hero led over the last hurdle, closely followed by Bluebell, and an exciting race too!; place up the straight-, but the Traduccr blood came to the fore, and H rd landed Bluebell a winner by a neck, amidst loud cheers. Foot Rack, 100 yards; for Boys under 12.—Entrance, free. Ist prize, lOs ; 2nd, ss. M. Ohlson ... ... | F. McCoskey ... ... •_> ,1. Murphy, .1. Haines and D. Barry also competed. The result was an easy win for Ohlscn, who was a head taller than his I opponents. Foot Rack, 100 yards; handicap.— Nominations, 2s Oil • acceptances, 5s ; Ist prize. L.'J ; 2nd, LI. P. Wyatt, scratch ... ... | A. Eayncr, syds. ... ... 2 J. Moran, who was entered for this, was scratched. The pace was hot from start to finish, and \\ yaft came in a bare winner on the post. Hacic .HYkiu.i: Rack. • - Distance, 1 j miles; over six {lights of hurdles 3ft. 3m. high. No lior.se to carry less than list., nor any horse to be allowed to start which lias ever won 1.10 of public money, or has been nominated for the Handicap HurdPs. Entrance, LI. Ist prize, LIO. Post entrv. J. Robinson’s Liability ... | Wrattan's Hercules ... ... 2 Pore’s Mustard ... ... ;; Dynamite, Marksman and Orient also started. Hercules went oil the course at the second hurdle, but soon recovered his position. Orient and Marksman came to grief at the fifth jump and Liability von by several lengths. M.UiiE.x Pr.ATK.—One mile and a distance. Weight forage. For all horses that have never won a race where L!0 or more public money was obi-red. Entrance, Li. Ist prize. LIO. J. Barry’s Orlando, Ost 2ib (A Herd) I O. If. Owen’s Fritter, (Ist 2ib. ... 2 'l'. Murphy’s Zingara ... ... 3 A good start was made. Fritter having a slight lead which was m-untaiiic i till about half round when Orlando drew up, and Hie two kept company till coming u;> the .straight wh.-n Orlando put on sour: and won by a length. Foot Rack. 440 yards; Handicap.— Nominations, 2s lid ; ne.wetauccs, ss. Ist prize, L 3 ; 2nd, LI. P. Wyatt scratch j A, Hale 20yds. ... ... •_> Raynor was scratched for this event and Wyatt won easily. SifKATiEiv'.s Ppksk. —Distance, 1; mihe. No horso to carry less than list. Post Entry. Fuy horses not entered for any other race. >b.r, ,;i ■ [.!. Ist prize, L, 30s. A. Mi.(..'nil’s (Orient ... ... | •I. Murphy's Bariev ... ... 2 Dynamite antS Outcast also ran. The finis!: in this rate w. -. cij.-e, it bvi-.g uva by a head.

WAUtAtr Plate Hanoic-vp. A sweepstakes of LI, for starters, with 'LL’") added. Nominations, JOs; accentanccs, LI. Distance, IA miles. D. Henderson’s Wheel of Fortune Sst 31 hs (Fatherly) ... ... 1 C. Redwood’s Magnolia, list 11b ... 2 A. Dillon's Nikau, 7st Gibs Hero and Lucy (Hitters were scratched, '[’his was looked upon as the event of the day, Magnolia being slightly the favorite. The race was between her and Wheel of Fertnne and the latter was splendidly ridden up the straight, winning by a clear length. Foot Race, ! mile ; Handicap. —Nominations, 2s Gd ; acceptances, ss. Ist prize, L 5 ; 2nd, L2. P, Wyatt, scratch ... ... I A, Halo, 20 yards ... ... 2 Rayner was scratched for this event also, and Wyatt again came in an easy winner. Hack Race. Distance, onuo round and a distance. The winner of the Shearer’s Purse or any horse entered

tor any other race (excepting the Shearer’s Purse and Hack Hurdles) nottoslart. F,ntrance, 10s. Ist prize. LA. For this event a field of eleven faced the starter, viz., Allen’s Fanny, Harry's Smith Star, (liliiiin's Nigger Roy. Avis’s Dick, Smith's Outcast, Mitchell’s Neky, Sandford’s Tommy, Hammcrich’s jMagnoliu, Gawto'.s Nellie, Linton’s Hercules, and Murphy's P.arucy, Strange: to relate the result was a dead heat between Outcast, Hercules, and Ramey, which was run oil’ after the Flying Stakes, when the horses came in in the following order Outcast ... ... ... i Ramey ... ... ... 2 Hercules ... ... ... b Fi.yjm: Stakes Haxiuca!’. Distance threei|uai'tei'.s of a mile. Nominations, 10s; acceptance, LI Ist prize, LIS. G. Riley's Marie Stuart. 7st Tibs, (Sutherley) ... ... ... 1 •I, Harry’s Orlando, Sst. ... ... 2 G. A. (jwen’a Fritters, sst lOlbs ... Waihnpni also ran, Wheel o; Fortune and Magnolia being scratched. Won by Marie Stuart by two lengths. Hituih.e Foot Race, 200 yards.— Over 10 flights of hurdles, 3ft. high. Nominations, 2s Gd ; acceptances, 5s ; Ist prize, Lb ; 2nd, Ll. A. Rayner, S yards ... ... I W. Vorry, scratch ... ... 2 Wyatt ami Hale did not start This was a good race between the two competitors until close to the post, when Rayner put on a spurt and won easily! Si'oiiTiNu HaniiK’ai*. Distance, otic j mile, Nominations, 10s ; acceptances, j LI. Ist prize, LIS. ('. Redwood's Magnolia, Sst !)lb. (Herd) 1 ! A. Dillon’s Nikau, list ... 2A. R. Ward's Hcatlierkd), Sst, 111 b. ... .’! I Hero also ran. Wheel of Fortune and i Mario Stuart were scratched. 1 leatherbell j led from the start until just at the turn j near the gate, when Magnolia and Nikau : drew up and remained close together till the finish.

Skf.i.iN(; Race. Distance, once round, No horse to carry less than 10st. The w inner to ho sold for Ll 5 ; any surplus to go to the funds of the Committee. Entrance, ss. Ist prize, L 5, A. Dillon’s Dynamite 1 (1. Reeves’ Telltale ... ... 2 d. Robinson’s Protection, and W. Robinson’s Grovetown also started. Dynamite came in a good winner, and was auctioned by Air. J. D. Fraser immediately after for LIT 10s., his purchaser being Mr. Keefe. Co>'soi..vrrox Handicap. Distance, one mile and a distance. For all horses that have started in previous races and not won. Entrance, 10s; Ist prize, L 5 ; 2nd, LI. 11. Dodson's Dick, -Sst. 71b. (Herd) ... 1 G. H. Owen's Fritter, 7-st. Tib. ... ... 2 Juicy Glitters, Zoo, and Harney also ran. E.uxk Handicap. — Fur a Cup, presented by A. R. liislop, LRq., Wellington, with 1,5 added money. Nomination 2s Gd, to go to 2nd horse ; third horse to save his stake, and a sweepstakes of LI for all starters. Distance, cure round and a distance. Post entry. 11. Dodson’s Diclc, list, (Herd) ... 1 G. Redwood’s Magnolia, list. bibs. ... 2 Nikau, Liability, Orlando, and Harney also started. This was decidedly the best race of the day. All the horses kept close together right round the course till coming up the last turn, when Dio.k and Magnolia, j left the ruck and finished close together at i the post. A Champion Ore will be awarded to the j person scoring the greatest number of ’ points in the 100yds., 440yds., and | Half-mile, and the Hurdle Foot Races, i Ist place to count three points, 2nd, ! two points, and brd one point. In the event of two or more persons tieing, j the tie to be run of on a course of j 200yds. from scratch. 1 Wyatt, l J points ... ... 1