HOKITIKA RACES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 87, 13 April 1874, Page 2

HOKITIKA RACES.

The recent Hokitika raco meeting appears to have been anything but a satisfactory one, as will be seen by the following extracts from tho West Coast Times : — The flrßt race on the card, owing to the Trial Stakes having fallen through, was the Handicap Hurdle Race. For this there were originally six entries, and out of these five had accepted, and all were on the course. Betting was brisk, it being understood that the quintett. would start. Tbe fact of Vandal going for it was regarded as a joke more than an) thing else, but the result showed that there are more things on racecourses than are dreamt of in the philosophy of ordinary mortals. About a quarter of an hour before starting, somewhere between one and two, it was announced that Nero, Tommy Dodd, and Septimus were scratched, thus leaving only Boy in Blue and Vandnl as competitors. The latter could not for some time find a rider, but at length Cahill volunteered, and the gallant gray was once more promoted to the dignity of a racehorse. Pending the scratching, we may observe, a number of objections were raised by owners and riders to the hurdles, which were alleged to be six inches higher than they should be. No official measurement took place, and therefore we cannot speak authorititively on the subject, but we are assured, on good authority, that the jumps were exactly as they have been for the last two or three meetings, and that no change whatever was made. A lame excuse is, however, better than none, as shown in this case. Before the horses were scratched, Tommy Dodd, Nero, and Septimus, were respectively backed for comparatively large amounts, the first-named of course being the favorite. When the announcement was made, the epithets heaped on the owners of those animals were more expressive than polite, for it was felt that something very like an arrangement had been come to, and that tho public, as usual, were the sufferers. It is quite unnecessary to refer further to the so-called race, but this fiasco caused a want of confidence in the races generally, and put a complete stop to all betting or speculation, save in the shape of. sweeps. The Borough Handicap was reduced to three, Lacenfeed being made a hot favorite, and backed heavily at 2 to 1 on her, Nero was supported at 2 to 1 against hira, Septimus found friends at 3to h The result astonished everybody, for Septimus had the race in hand after passing the Stand the first time. The Selling Race was worthy of its name. Four entries were made, and two contested the race. Lacenfeed and Septimus were not intended, for there could be no excuse in reference to handicapping, it being weight for age, with allowances. The Trotting Race fell through. The results were: — Handicap Hurdle Race — Mr Seaton's Boy in Blue, 1 ; Mr Gawne's Vandal, 2. Hack Handicap—Mr Smith's Garryowen, 1; Mr Mahoney's Wide-awake, 2; Mr EvaDs's Scotty, 3. Borough Handicap — Mr Cameron's Septimus, 1; Mr Graham's Lacenfeed, 2; Mr Carroll's Nero, 3. Selling Race — Mr M'lvor's Tommy Dodd, 1 ; Mr Graham's North Star, 2.