AGLIONBY RACES, RIVER HUTT.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 387, 18 April 1849, Page 3

AGLIONBY RACES, RIVER HUTT.

These Races came off on Wednesday on the Race Course newly formed by Mr. Burcham on the section next the Bridge, on the left bank of the River Hutt. The course is a mile round.

Hurdle Race. Heats — twice round the course, over six hurdles three feet, nine inches high. Mr. Armstrong's blk. g. Saddler 1 1 Mr. Forster's b. g. Buthman .... 2 2 Mr. Grimaldi's . . . . b. g. Forlorn Hope 4 3 Mr. Duppa's . . . . cb. h. H Barbierc . . 3 4 Mr. Hickson's. . . . b. h. Beagle 0 0 Mr. St. Hill's .... blk. g. Mungamung . . 0 0 Mr. Allens blk.g. Butcher Boy.. 0 0 Seven horses started for this race at halfpast one ; the start, which took place in a pelting shower, having been delayed two hours by II Barbiere not coming to time, was a very good one, and the horses kept pretty well together to the second hurdle, when, owing to the heavy state of the course, some of the horses began to tail off. Butcher Boy refused his fourth hurdle ; the heat then lay between Beagle, Suddler, II Barbiere, and Bushman. Beagle looked like winning until 200 yards from the last hurdle, when, owing to the state of the ground, he fell. Saddler, who was well ridden throughout the race by Mr. Bromley, then took the lead, and won by about three lengths, Bushman second, // Barbiere third. Second Heat. — Six started ; // Barbiere looked well until the third hurdle, against which he jumped and fell, giving his rider a very ugly fall. At the second round Beagle, who was second, again fell at the same place, and the race was very closely contested between Saddler and Bushman, the former winning by about three lengths, thus proving himself a better horse than some have been taking him for; although there can be little doubt that the dreadfully heavy state of the course was much in favour of a horse of his bone and power, and something alsp must tie put down to the chapter ojf accidents. The day was most unfavourable, a heavy driving rain and a. violent wind continued" the whole afternoon,, and it must have greatly astonished the natives to have seen the pakehas turn out in such weather for a day's pleasure; bu,t the game was made* and must be played^ and so about half- past three the following horses started fox

Mary fell at the corner near the river, and the heat consequently lay between the other three about the first half mile, and was won by Nominee, who appeared to have it all her own way ; however, the second heat again showed the glorious uncertainty of racing, especially through bog and mire ; for the mare that looked well to win the second heat fell, either from want of strength to pull through, or from the nature of the ground ; and Rubens came in a tolerably easy winner, the mare from losing her rider being distanced. For the third heat Pirate and Rubens started, and this was won easily by Rubens, Pirate either being or appearing to be dead beat by the work he had done the two previous heats. We, nevertheless, think he is a good little horse, and likely to shew some of them the way, when he has a fair chance afforded him by careful training and good riding. The other races were postponed until Saturday, on acdount of the weatHer.

Saturday, 14th April. The Scurry Stakes which were postponed in consequence of the bad state of the weather, &c, &c, on Wednesday, came off on Saturday last, and we regret to say proved a total failure ; this may be attributed to several causes, first — the bad state of the course consequent upon the continued bad weather ; secondly, to the unreasonably persisting in running over a course hardly fit to drive a team of bullocks over instead of adjourning to Petoni beach where a decent course was to be had ; and thirdly, to the ill concerted arrangements for starting, &c. The consequence was that although five or six horses were on the course waiting to start only two were started, Patch and Scroggins. Scroggins won the first heat although he fell near the distance post, had he not fallen it is said Patch would have been distanced. A second start between the same horses was declared by the Judge and Stewards present to be a false one, Patch, however, went on and claimed the heat. Scroggins then walked over the course and was declared the winner. Much discontent is felt at the issue of this race, and our belief is that the blame lies most with those who refused to consent to run the race on the sands, yet it is apparent that some of the blame must rest on the Stewards, who appear on this occasion to have been rather informal, although we are quite sure every one will give them credit for the best intentions.

Beaten Stakes. For these races three entrances were made for the Hurdles, viz. — Bushman, Beagle, and Butcher Bog, and two for the Eretonga, viz. — Pirate and Mary. The Stewards declared that they should be run on the sands at half-past two, and accordingly, after having levied heavy contributions upon the refreshments provided by the "hospitable villagers," all started off for the beach at Petoni, where, about three o'clock, the Beaten Stakes for the Eretonga was easily won by Piratf, Mary being distanced in the first heat. The hurdles were then put up and the horses started from the Waiwetu end of the beach, to the pa at Petoni, about a mile and a half with three leaps. Butcher Boy refused his first jump and seemed more inclined to take a sea bath than a leap, and the race lay between Beagle and Bushman, and was won easily by Bushman, Beayle not coming near him during the race. Beagle was then drawn and Bushman declared the winner.

leats — once and a half round the course. Lieut. Gordon's . . gri h. Rvfreai& „., a 11 Mr. Lyall's gr. h. Pirate . . 3 2. % Dr. FentherstonV eh.m. Nominee;. 1 0 0 Mr. L©xlej'f,, M cli,m, -Sfapy „;. ft 0 0 '

--** The Eretqnga Shakes.