BURNHAM WATER RACES.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 572, 25 January 1851, Page 2

BURNHAM WATER RACES.

Thursday. If Wednesday, the Anniversary of the Set. tlement, passed oft in quiet, “more honored in the breach than the observance,” by th e omission of those sports and amusements which have customarily marked it as a holi. dav, the pleasure-seekers were determined to make amends by the enjoyment to be derived the day following from the races at Burnham Water. Accordingly, by u j ne o’clock on Thursday, might be seen groups of pedestrians wending their way to the course; as the day advanced, parties of horsemen added to the bustle of the road, while conveyances of all descriptions, front the humble donkey-cart to the “ one horse shay,” or the waggon drawn by a four-i n , hand team of bullocks, were put in requi. sition to help to swell the numbers who were collecting from the town and country districts to witness the races. His Excel, lency Sir George Grey and the Lieutenant. Governor and Mrs. Eyre were on th. ground; the grand stand was filled with the fair sex; and it was the general remark that more people were present on this than on any previous occasion. The surrounding hills commanding a view of the course were studded with pic-nic parties, the tout ensem. ble presenting a very gay and animated scene. The day was very warm, but the high wind proved a drawback, from the un. pleasantness occasioned by the clouds of sand which it raised. The first race was the Jockey Club Produce Cup, for which the following horses entered and started :—

At starting Tamerlane took the lead, fol. lowed bv Zoe, the other three keeping behind. Tamerlane bolted in coming round the second time, and Zoe took his place, kept it throughout, and won the first heat easily. The second heat Lapwing led, followed closely by Zoe and Tamerlane, the latter being ridden in this heat bv Rowatt, who managed to bring him first bv about a length. Third heat Zoe, Tamerlane and Lapwing started well together; the two last made a beautiful race of it, the latter winning by a length, requiring a fourth heat to claim the superiority, for which they started, Zoe being drawn ; this was also a beautiful race, Lapicing winning bv half a length. Had Tamerlane been ridden bv Rowatt in the first heat, the general opinion is that he would have won it, as well as the second. The first heat was run in 3m. 1 Os., second heat 3m. 125., third heat 3m. ISs., fourth heat 3m. 50s.

JOCKEY CLUB HANDICAP. the following horses entered, and all f started, with the ex eption of Ringcreevy Mr. Rowland s Rubens, Wintringham | Mr. Jillett’s Miss Fanny, Rowatt. jun $ Mr. Skipwith’s Ancient Mariner, Skipwith ....3 Captain Stokes’ Lady Helen, Nicoll 2 Mr. A.rmstrong’s Ringcreevy f Mr. Hickson’s Beauty, Prince g Mr. St. Hill’s Pastile, Rowatt 1 Miss Fanny and Lady Helen leading together, Rubens last. In passing the winning post the second time round, Lady Helen was first closely followed by Pastile, Rubens, and j Ancient Mariner. but Rubens here broke | down, falling quite lame from his accident g last year. The race was easily won by Pas- \ tile, Lady Helen a bad second, and Ancient Mar ner a worse third, the rest no where. Time 4m. Ils. BURNHAM WATER STAKES. xnc tOuOwing uorses were entered lorg this race :— Mr. St. Hill’s St. Hill, Rowatt.. 2 1 Mr. Rowland’s Rubens, Wintringham ? Mr. Skipwith’s Ancient Mariner Dr, Mr. Armstrong’s Ringcreevy, MTntosh.... 1 I Rubens only started, and immediately pul- f led up, as three were required to start ornu race. Ancient Mariner was withdrawn. Ths other two horses kept well together until ; the run-in. when they both made play, Rincreevy won both heats by a length. Thi*| race created great excitement from the r known powers of both horses. SCURRY STAKES. The following horses started, with theeX’l ception of Zoe ;— Mr. Hickson’s Zoe l Mr. Jillett’s Miss Fanny 8 Mr. Burcham’s Camilla .*■ Mr. Skipwith’s Ancient Mariner,| Mr. Suisted’s Scroggins"l, Mr. Taylor’s Bullet Eye | Camilla took the lead and kept it throug* l ' | out, Scroggins barely saving his the rest nowhere. Second heat, the h Mariner bolted, and Camilla walked She was beautifully ridden by young I meron. This completed the first day’s sp° r j’| every one seemed delighted with the g amusement, and no accident happened,

SECOND DAY.

The weather was most favourable yesterday, a light south-easter having set in in the earlv part of the day, the previous day having been most disagreeable from the clouds of dust and sand and a strong northwester. The first race was the Hurdle Race, for which the following horses entered and started :— Mr. Armstrong’s Ringcreevy, Higgins.... 1 2dis Mr. Hickson’s Beagle, Winteringham .... 4 4 Mr. Firth’s Woodstock, MTntosh Dis. Mr. Skipwith’s Ancient. Mariner, Rowatt .311 Mr. St. Hill's Tamerlane, St. Hill 2 3 2 Tamerlane led off, with Beagle and Ringcreevy following closely; Woodstock refused his first hurdle, Ancient Mariner refused at the second. Tamerlane and Beagle led the way together, Ringcreevy soon took Beagle’s place and won the first heat easily, Tamerlane a very good second. In the second heat Tamerlane, Ancient Mariner and Beagle took the first hurdles together, Ringcreevy keepjog behind until he reached the third hurdle, here he commenced with the Ancient Mariner, the race was between these two, they took their leaps exactly together from the third to the sixth, and the Ancient Mariner headed Ringcreevy in the run-in bv two lengths. In the third heat the last two horses took their leaps together throughout the whole race until the last, where Ringcreevy threw his rider and Ancient Mariner won easily, Tamerlane second. The owner of Ringcreevy substituted MTntosh for Higgins in this heat. THE LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ PURSE. The following horses were entered for this race, but only the four first started : — Captain Stokes’ Lady Helen 3 2 Mr, Burcham’s Camilla 1 1 Mr. Hickson’s Beatify dist. Mr. Suisted’s Scroggins 2 3 Mr. Rowland’s Rubens Mr. Hickson’s Zoe Mr. Armstrong’s Ringcreevy Mr. Jillet’s Miss Fanny.. .. Mr. St. Hill’s Thmer/mie Mr. Taylor’s Bullet Eye Camilla took the lead in both heats, and kept it thioughout, the other horses merely saving their distances, Scroggins beat Lady Helen in the second heat by half a length. The time of passing the winning post the first time round was Imin. 52sec. and the race was won in 3min. 47sec. Three Maori Horses started after the last race, but there were so many disputes and difficulties to settle after the race was run, we were unable to arrive at the decision of the Stewards. The Beaten Stakes were run for by— Mr. Suisted’s Scroggins 1 ] Mr. Firth’s Woodstock ~22 Mr. Jillet’s Miss Fanny 3 3 won easily by Scroggins. This closed the Burnham Water R aces for 1851. and we may safely say they have undoubtedly been the best races ever run in this Settlement. The Hurdle Race was ■ splendid throughout; Rowatt’s riding on the 1 Mariner was generally allowed to be first- • rate. Great credit is due to the Stewards, ! Judge, and other gentlemen of the Comj mittee, &c., for the excellent arrangements ; on rhe Course ; and we are happy to state 1 that no accident happened, or any disturbances occurred during the whole meeting.

Mr. Jenkins’ deception, Higgins < Drawn. Mr. Hickson’s Zoe, Prince 1 3 3 Dr. Mr. St. Hill’s Tamerlane,St. IIill,Rowatt5 1 2 2 Lieut. Trafford’s Naenae, Skipwith, .. 3 4 Dr. Mr. Nairne’s Lapwing, Collins 2 2 1 1