THE RACE MEETING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4276, 3 December 1874, Page 2

THE RACE MEETING.

Favorable weather—of wliich there is a fair prospect—is all that is required to make the races of to-day and to-morrow an unqualified success. Those of the citizens who have attended the races in the good old days, when the viciuity of Burnham Water was the racing ground, will best appreciate the advance that has been made within the last few years in horse-racing in Wellington. Not that the sport of to-day will be more genuine than it was then, but the number and excellence of the homes that will compete will show that progress has been made since that date. It is a pity that the best horses owned in the colony are now absent in Melbourne ; for there can be no doubt that were Lurlinc, Papapa, and Calumny competitors on the H'utt course today, the importance of the meeting would have been considerably enhanced. But Tambourini,

Guy Fawkes, Premier, and Voltaire, will make the Cup anything but an uninteresting event. The money to he run for is almost, if not quite, double that of previous years. _ That the meeting has excited considerable interest throughout the colony is made evident by the presence here from all corners of it of that class of "entry who “ travel” upon important events of the kind. A feature new to Wellington was to be seen in the hotels and places of business and resort yesterday, in the shape of placards, notifying that Mr. So-and-So is a bookmaker, and prepared to lay and accept odds to any amount. The stewards appear to have left no stone unturned to make the meeting popular, and pass off with eclat. The comfort of the ladies on the grand stand has not been overlooked— a wise forethought, as even with good racing, fine weather, and a numerous attendance, there is still something wanting unless the fair sex are well represented. Arrangements have been made by which the Artillery Band will enliven the intervals between the events by discoursing excellent music on the lawn in front of the grand stand. There will be no lack of routes and means by which to reach the course from Wellington. The ordinary time-table of the Wellington and Hutt railway has been suspended, and one substituted for the race days will be found most convenient. Eleven trains will leave each day, thus affording means of transport for all who may desire to witness the races. Three steamers, the Manawatu, Stormbird, and Napier, will ply between the wharf and the Hutt beach, and many have expressed their intention of proceeding by this route. Schooners, cutters, yachts, and rowing-boats will also get under way this morning, them owners, crews, and passengers “ off to see the races,” and the number who will avail themselves of this means, of transit will not bo inconsiderable. Not a trap of any kind is to be had fpr either love or money. There will be omnibuses waiting the arrival of each train to convey passengers to the course, and, in fact, everything has been done which will conduce to a successful meeting. A bridge has been run up over the river Waiwetu to accommodate the passengers by the steamers. His Honor the Superintendent, president of the meeting, will be on the course, as will also the vice-president, George Hunter, Esq. E. Pearce, Esq., will undertake the onerous and responsible office of judge. The stewards are Messrs. Geo. Crawford, J. Martin, J. Gilligan, J. McDowell, J. Paid, T. Braithwaite, and Dr. Diver. Mr Andrew Young will make an excellent starter, whilst Mr. Geo. H. Jackson will perform the duties appertaining to the clerk of the scales. To Mr. Prosser has been entrusted the office of clerk of the course ; and, judging by the manner in which he has acquitted himself in former years, it could not have fallen into better hands. Mr J. R. George is treasurer, and Mr. William Bromley honorary secretary. The first race, the Maiden Plate, starts at half-past twelve, and promises to be a most interesting one. Up to the present time not many bets have been made on this event, although each candidate finds its own admirers. The second race—and the race of the day—the Wellington Cup, will start at 1.30. Tambourini is fanciedby many for this event, and this fine gelding is said to be in excellent fettle, as “fit as a fiddle” to contest the run. However, the race is by no means a certainty for him, for the young ones carrying light weights will mest probably get away from him at the start. Whether they will all be caught before the two-mile is completed will of course be only decided when the numbers are up. The Selling Race at 2.30, being a short one, should be a fast spurt and well contested, if all come to the scratch. The Hack Race at 3.30, will of course be as amusing as hack races always are. The last event on the card for the first day—the Provincial Plate, at 4.3 o—is expected to be a hot race, Mr. Tancred’s Premier finding many friends, to whom, no doubt, he will give account of himself. If the weather —as we have said—only proves propitious, the Wellington race meeting of 1874 will he a great success. Our Racing Prophet has negligently omitted to send us a “tip ” for the day; but the following Calcutta sweeps, which came off last night at the Empire Hotel, will afford some idea of what “ horsewm-—* ” tUI,VIr ..iu"'! ir. ■—

Wellington Cup.—Value or Pool, £4B ss. 6d. Guy Fawkes ... ... £25 0 0 Tambourini ... ... 16 0 0 Voltaire ... ... ... 8 0 0 Premier ... ... ... 6 0 0 Provincial Plate.—Valee, £43. Premier ... ... ... £ls 0 0 Nanakai ... ... ... 9 0 0 Princess Mary ... .. 5 0 0 True Blue ... ... 3 0 0 Glenavy ... ... ... 30 0 Phcenix ... ... ... 200 Maiden Plate. —Valde, £42. Rangi ... ... ... £l4 0 0 Voltaire ... ... ... 8 0 0 Pochreagh ... ... 610 0 Sir Walter 4 10 0 Princess Mary ... ... 3 0 0 Wednesday, Midnight. Our pigeon express from the Hutt has arrived, with the following anticipation of the results of the day’s racing from our invisible reporter, who has been watching the preparations of the nags for some time past, but forgot to send us his observations : The Maiden Plate. Rangi ... ... ... ... 1 Or Voltaire. Wellington Cup. Guy Fawkes ... ... ... 1 Tambourini ... ... 2 Selling Race. Purlins ... ... ... 4 This in all probability will be a match between Lurline and Tui, as the chances are that Sir Walter and Remnant will be scratched, the selling condition being too severe. Provincial Plate. Premier ... ... ••• 1 Glenavy 2 The latter is the “ dark horse,” and coming from a splendid stable she may turn the tables upon the Premier.