THE RACES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 81, 11 April 1871, Page 2

THE R ACES.

Tuesday April 11. In giving an account of a race meeting, the writer should, in justice to his subject, bid farewell to dull care, aud lay aside all reminiscences but those which tend to give a cheerful coloring to his report, but, having been a regular attendant on the Nelson course for the last eighteen years, your present reporter cannot but look back with something of regret upon the days when our races were at the very zenith of their prosperity, and when those who witnessed them knew that the horses whose preparatory toilet was being performed iv the saddling yard were of the very best blood in New Zealand, and that many of them had "won a gallant name" in the sister colony of Australia ; nor can he altogether banish from his mind's eye the faces that at one time were invariably to be seen in the vicinity of the Stand, and occasionally he, almost involuntarily, looks round in the expectation of catching sight of the cheery, honest face of that true sportsman, the late Mr. Newcome, or the jovial countenance of Mr. Poynter who always occupied the respousihle position of judge, to the satisfaction of all concerned. But the times since then are changed, and we must accept our altered circumstances as they are, without indulging in the futile wish that they might be as they have been, and so I will to my task, dropping the melancholy, and assuming the cheerful, strain in which it is. now my duty to record the events of the day. One word -before commencing. It ;is I customary for a reporter to assume the

plural pronoun "'we," but at the risk of being deemed egfiiislioal, I mean on the present occasion to adopt the ''I," which is far more elasi'u', admits of a deal more freedom, .and is, I may add, more adupted to my present mood. The weather for our annual holiday was glorious, and not the least agreeable parr, of the day's enjoyment was tho drive to the course, nnd our numerous visitors from Wanganui must have been delighted with the beautiful view to be obtained on emerging from the hilly part of the road. If there is one holiday that our Nelson folk enjoy more than another, it is our annual races, and the interest taken iv them, did not appear to have much diminished to day, the muster from all parts being certainly larger than had been anticipated in the present dull times. The country people did not, crowd in as they used to do some years a<zo, but a very large number of vehicles were to be seen on the rtfad from town, all of them crowded with holiday makers. At twelve o'clock the bell rang for saddling for the first race, the Maiden Plate, for which the four horses entered came to the post. Sailor and Quicksilver were never looked upon as having a chance, and the race was expected, as proved to lie the case, to be between Day Dawn and Vulcan, the latter being the favorite. On their appearance on the course, Day Dawn, a neat, lively little bay colt, took j the fancy of a great many, and those who were betting against her did not feel altogether comfortable, nor were their hopes nquch revived on the appearance of the favorite, who did not look a safe horse to he entrusted with any large sum of money. However, Day Dawn had never before distinguished himself, and a well contested race was expected for The MAIDEN PLATE. oF 50 soys ; second horse to' save his slake. For three-year-olds, 8.-t 1 lb ; fnur. 9st lib ; five, 9st Gibs six and aged, 9>t 81bs ; 3lbs allowed to mares and j-eldings. One mile and a quarter. For all horses, maidens at the time of entering. Mr. Redwood's h c Day Dawn (Sunle.y) ... 1 Mr. Maffird's h g Vulcan (Mason) 2 Mr. NichoNon's b j? >aiior (Owner) 3 Mr. Sellon's eh in Quicksilver (Downes) ... 0 A good start was effected, and the Sailor and his mercurial little friend went away with a dash, followed by the other two, Day Dawn well to the rear. At the Turf corner, however, the colt refused to occupy so dishonorable a position any longer, and all Sunley's effort swere unavailing to keep him from going to the front. At the bottom of the course Vulcan left Sailor and Quicksilver and went up pretty close to the colt who allowed him ro keep just behind his heels, hut would not permit him to approach any nearer. In this order the}' came round the corn - *!* and up the strdght run, Day Dawn retainin:: the lead hands down; Vulcan, who exhibited something of his mother's temper, swerving nnd swaying to and fro and win. ling anything but kindly, passing the wiuning post a couple of lengths behind him. Sailor a bad third. Time, 2 mm. 19 seconds. The TUKF CLUB HANDICAP PLATE, of 70 soys, added to a sweepstakes ot 4 soys each, 2 soys ft ; second horse to save his stake. One mile wnd ihreoquartcrs. Mr. Walter's b m Yattarina (French) , ... 1 Mr. Stafford's eh m Laeenfeed (Fiven) '' ... 2 Mr. Redwood's br f Anticipation (Lyford) ... 3 Mr. Stafford's b g Vulcan (Mason) 0 This race is easily described. The horses got away together, and constantly changed their relative positions, it being perfectly clear the whole time that whenever Yattarina felt inclined, she could go to the front. On passiug the Turf corner, Vulcan bolted and jumped over the hedge, landing on the other side on the top of a cart, but both horse and jockey fortunately escaped' unhurt. After this the Auckland mare went away with the lead just as she pleased, and cautered in any number of lengths ahead of the others. It is but fair to J.aceufeed to say that she was lame when she started, and that Anticipation met with some mishap as she pulled up at the post dead lame. The WAIMEA PLATE cflD soys, added to a sweep-takes of I soy eich ; for all horses that have never ran for an advertised race of the value of 20 soys. Catch weights. Entrance, 1 soy. Once round. Mr. Satherley's Eire Tail 1 Mr. Paul's Snorting Tommy -2 Fire Tail arrived at the post about five, nnd Snorting Tommy about eight, minutes after starting. The LAWKS' PURSE, of 40 soys ; entrance, 3 soys j second horse to save his stake. Three years olds, 9st ; four, lust 2lb ; five, lOst 91 bs ; six -oid aged. 1 ist; 3lbs allowed to mares and geilings. One mile and a-quarter. Heats, (jeutleinun riders. Mr. Waiter's b m Slander (Mr. Hoskin<o 1 1 Mr. "Jtufford's eh g M genta (Mr ßichardson) 2 2 Mr. Redwood's b c Day Dawn (Mr. F. Redwood) 3 0 In the first heat Slander and Day Dawn went away with a strong lead and it soon became evident that Mr. Richardson's game was to . take .the old horse quietly round, contenting himself with saving his distance. Meantime the other two bowled along at a rattling pace,

but before r ••'•-ing the turn to the straihj^t run in, it \v..o quite clear that Slander's jockey had t ■<■: race in his hands, aud as he came .. ,- !ao course he took a strong pull on the cv.re, and cantered in an easy winner. I.i iiio second heat Slander took ihu Wad and iLitained it, the old horse never getting ■.vuuin three or four lengths of her. The HANDItV.L' HURDLE RACE, of 25 soys. adaed to v :-■„•., jos takes of S soys each, 1 ft, (Jne mile a-.i.i : -iialf, over eight flights of hurdles, tiecuit . horse to save his stake. Mr Nicholson',; l> - Sailor (Owner) 1 Mr. Stafford'- ;- Sprightly (Simpson) ... 2 Mr. Redwood's !i;.c Patch (Sunley) 3 Mr. bellon'd eh m Quicksilver (Downes) ... 0 The first fence was taken simultaneously by Quicksilver and .Sailor, Patch aud Sprightly a Ici-.nh or two MKind, and this order was mai tamed unffl reaching the third feuc:>, wiiere Quicksilver baulked. A pretty race now emued between Patch and Sailor, b-,i at the fourth fence the former fell, l aviug Sailor to come in an easy winner.