MASTERTON RACES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 50, 6 January 1872, Page 6

MASTERTON RACES.

(Fbom Ora Special Correspondent). This annual race meeting came off, as usual, on Monday and Tuesday, the Ist and 2nd of January, on the Manaia race course. The weather was very favorable ; and there was a very large attendance of visitors from all parts of the valley, comprising an unusual large number of both races and s<xes. The races, also, on the whole, were better than have ever before taken place in the Wairarapa, and were equal to the best of those which were ever witnessed in the palmy days of Burnham Water, under the auspices of the Wellington Jockey Club. The course was in excellent condition, and all the arrangements were satisfactory. No accident of any kind occurred, and sobriety was the rule instead of the exception. The grand stand was occupied almost exclusively by the fair sex, and is more worthy of that title than most of those temporary erections which have frequently been thus designated. The first event was the Maiden Plate —Sweepstakes of 1 sov, with £2O added. Two miles, single event. Weights—3 yrs, Bst; 4 yrs, 9st; 5 yrs, and aged, 10st. There were four entries for this race, but three only put in an appearance, namely— Mr M'Cartby’s Ravens’Feathers ... ... 1 Mr D. Donald’s Ravens’ Wing ... .. 2 Mr T. Ray’s Rob Roy ... ... ... 3 The whole of the horses made a good start, and kept well together. The race was well contested, each horse passing the winning post in the above order. Gate Purse —Of £ls, with sweepstakes of 1 sov added. Once round the course; heats; catch weights. Six horses entered for this event, but there were only three started. This also was a good race, in both heats Nai Nai taking and keeping the lead throughout. They passed the winning post as under : Mr T. Ray’s Nai Nai 1 1 Mr M'Glashan’s Ronald 22 Mr Baird’s Post Boy ... ... ... & A Hack Race followed, for which; five entered, the victory in both heats having been secured by a Maori horse. But the great event of the day was thft Manaia Stakes— Of £SO, with a sweepstakes of £4 added. Twice round the course ; weights for age. There were five entries for this event, and all the horses came to the scratch at the time appointed. They were as follows : Mr M'Glashan’s Lacenfeed ... ... 2 Mr Donald’s Rattling Raven ... ... 2 Mr Fuller’s Commodore ... ... ... 3 Mr Hay ward’s Soul hern Chief ... dist Mr Reiman’s Corsair ... ... ... O In passing the winning post the first time round Southern Chief took the lead, closely followed by Rattling Raven, Lacenfeed, and Commodore, Corsair bringing up the rear. The leading horse then swerved from the course, and abandoned the contest to the three horses just named, each of which doing its best to win, Lacenfeed, in the rush in, coming to the front and carrying off the prize. Her spirited owner publicly offering to back her against the field, but he found no takers. A well-contested hack race, which was won by Mr H. Gillies’ gelding, concluded the events of the day. SECOND DAY. TUESDAY. It was at first thought there would not be so many visitors on the second day as on the first; but in the afternoon the course was as crowded as it had been on the day previous. The first event was a complete “ sell,” only Post Boy coming to the scratch. He refused to leap any hurdles, and could be with difficulty persuaded to scramble through them. A more ludicrous scene than was presented by the frantic efforts maide by his jockey to get him to face the hurdles, and by his persistent refusuals to do so, has seldom been seen on a race course ; and yet by the p p. regulations he was entitled to the stakes. The hack hurdle race which followed, however, made up for the disappointment occasioned by the result of the previous event, amor© exciting racs, or a closer contest, being but Beldom witnessed. Five spirited horses were entered for the contest, but the following three only ffeserve “ honorable mention” : Morne’s Camel ... ... ... 1 1 Murphy’s Kangaroo ... 22 Renall’s Liberator ... ... ... 3 G They all took their leaps in first-rate style, and in each heat it was difficult to tell until the last moment which would proye the victor. Ladies’ Puese—Of fifteen guineas. Entrance one guinea. Twice round the course, welter weights. No less than seven horses were entered for this event; but when the bell rang for saddling only three came forward, namely, Rattling Raven, Commodore, and Lacenfeed. On passing the winning post the first time round Commodore took the lead, closely followed by Rattling Raven, the mare being some distance behind. She then pushed forward, taking the second place in a very short time, and treading close on the heels of Commodore. In the straight run in a neck and neck race occurred between Lacenfeed and Commodore ; and on passing the winning post there was not a pin to choose between them ; the race resulting in a dead heat, and had consequently to be run over again. After an interval of half an hour the two competitors again appeared on the course, M'Glashan, as before, riding his own horse, while Commodore had the good fortune to secure Hayward for his jockey. The latter took and kept the lead during the first mile and a half; but on nearing the winning post M'Glashan gave the rein to the mare, which came up at length abreast of Commodore, and eventually headed him, winning the purse by little more than half a neck. The purse, which waa a veiy handsome one, was presented to the winner by Mrs W. Dorset, amidst the cheers of the bystanders.

The Consolation Stakes, after a sharp contest between Rattling Haven and Balrownie, were won by the former. One or two well-contested hack races followed; and the sports of. the day were concluded by a running match against time ; young Austin undertaking to run, and succeeding in accomplishing, a distance of ten miles within an hour. W. H. Donald, Esq, as usual, acted as judge and starter; Messrs Rokel and Nicol made most efficient stewards; while Messrs Ward and Loms respectively officiated as clerk of the course and clevk of the scales. The circus band was in attendance and contributed much to the enjoyment of the day.