WAIRARAPA J. C. ANNUAL RACE MEETING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5580, 15 February 1879, Page 3

WAIRARAPA J. C. ANNUAL RACE MEETING.

(from our special reporter.) SECOND DAY.—Friday, Feb. 14,

The weather for the second day’s races was again beautifully fine, and the result was that the attendance was very large, including a good number of residents of Wellington. The Maoris showed up in still greater force than they did yesterday, and appeared to enter into the day's proceedings with the greatest possible enthusiasm. As on the first day so on the second, the grand stand and paddocks were numerously patronised, even more so, comparatively, than was the case at the Hutt meeting. The Masterton Borough Baud again discoursed some good and lively music, which went a great way towards making the proceedings more enjoyable. There was nothing further to note on the course beyond what I intimated in my prefatory observation yesterday ; except that so far as the races themselves were concerned the sport was better, and the hurdle events formed, of course, a very prominent feature on the card, and were more thoroughly enjoyed by the general body of spectators than any of the other events. Roebuck won the Hurdle Handicap, Black Warrior the Hack Hurdle Race, Laertes the Wairarapa Jockey Club Handicap, Lady Gray the Hack Race, Diver the District Handicap, and Xka the Consolation. X shall now proceed to describe the various events in detail. HURDLE HANDICAP, Of BO govs.; second horse to save Ills stakes. Entrance, 1 sov : acceptance, 2 sovs. Two miles and a distance ; over darkened hurdles 3ft Din high. Mr D. Knight’s b g Roebuck, aged, Ost Tib (Higginson) .. .. .. .. .- .. 1 Mr T. H. Hill's g m Ada, aged, Sst 101 b (R. Webb) 2 Mr P. Rutler’a ch g Agent, syrs, 12st 101 b (Hawkins) 3 Mr. Murtagh’s Harkaway, Mr. J. Desmond’s Kangaroo, and Mr. J. Desmond’s Blue Jacket also ran. Mr. Desmond declared to win with Kangaroo. Mr. Vallance’s Everaley was scratched.

Betting ; 6 to 4 against Agent, 2 to 1 against Harkaway, 4 to 1 against Blue Jacket, 5 to 1 against Kangaroo, 6 to 1 against Roebuck, 4 ±o 1 against Ada. After a couple of vain attempts the starter got the half-dozen off very ■evenly. Kangaroo at once assumed the lead, ■closely waited on by Roebuck, Ada, Blue Jacket, and Harkaway, with Agent last. In this order they passed the grand stand, with Agent lagging rather behind and apparently out of sorts. On nearing the bush Kangaroo was still ahead, with all the others except Agent in close attendance. They ran for some distance in a ruck, the gap between the rest «nd Agent being increased to quite 20 lengths. On coming up to the second hurdle from the stand the first time round Harkaway took the jump sideways, and came down a cropper. Murtagh lost little time under the circumstances, and was quickly in the saddle again, and the chestnut gelding was soon amongst his company, but on passing the stand the second time Murtagh pulled up, alleging that he did so ■because ho was told it was only twice past the stand. Ondiscoveringhiserror he again wentatit, but his position was by this time little better than Agent's, who went most lazily from the start. All this time Kangaroo was gradually increasing his lead, and he looked almost a certain winner until at the second hurdle from home he came to grief. In the meantime Blue Jacket had baulked at the fourth hurdle, and was pulled up. When Kangaroo fell Roebuck showed in front, closely waited on by Ada, all the others being out of it, or at least having only the remotest chance of the stakes. Roebuck and Agent took the last jump but one with very little advantage on either side, and turning into the straight a most exciting race ensued between them, both jockeys flogging hard. As they neared the last jump of all the excitement became intense, and it was just a toss up which of them would be landed a winner. They took the last jump almost together, Roebuck having a slight advantage at the rise. In landing on the other side of the hurdle, however, his heels caught it and he staggered a little. Tbe grey mare came away from the jump with a slight lead, but Roebuck rapidly recovering himself soon got upon even terms with the mare, and they raced neck and neck. The mare, however, was cleverly beaten by a neck on the post. Both horses were well ridden. Agent was a bad third. Time : 4min. 36sec. HACK HCBDLB BACK, First horse to receive 15 sovs; second horse, 3 sovs. One mile and a distance. Weight, 10st. Entrance, 10s. Mr. Mnrtagh’a blk Warrior (Owner) 1 Mr. Macara's Forest Queen (Brimner) .. -. 2 Mr. Carswell's Grey Tom (Hogan) .. .. _.. 3 Mr. Hill's Lady Grey and Mr. Bright’s Uncle Tom also ran. Uncle Tom came to grief at the second hurdle from home, and Lady Grey baulked at the same hurdle. A capital race then ensued between the three which were placed, Murtagh landing the Warrior a winner by half a length, there being about tthe same distance between the second and third. WATEABAPA J. C. HANDICAP, Of 150 sovs. Entrance, 2 sovs. Acceptance, 3 sovs. , _ Two miles. Mr. P. Butler’s b h Laertes, 6yrs, Ost 2lbs(Demulh) 1 Mr. It. H. Vallanoe's eh m Lady Ellen, aged, Sst (Hairis) „ 2

Betting: Even on Laertes, 2 to 1 agst Ika, 3 to 1 agst Bribery, 5 to 1 agst Lady Ellen. For this event there were originally tea entries, but in the acceptances that number was reduced to six, and Diver being scratched at 12.40 p.m. to-day, and Lara at 1.5 p.m,, the field dwindled down to four, namely, Bribery, Laertes, Lady Ellen, and Ika. As usual, Bribery maintained her reputation as a bad starter. Immediately Nolan mounted she commenced to plunge about, and despite all her owner and rider could do to pacify her, the mare worked herself into a perfect lather before she could be got to the scratch. The other three stood there patiently while Bribery was playing her antics. Nolan twice got off, and the mare was led up to face the starter, but the moment her jockey remounted the plunging process was recommenced. The flag was eventually lowered, and Ika, Lady Ellen, and Laertes went off at a good pace. Bribery was left at the post, much to the regret of the public, who expected that with Bribery in it the most important race of the day would be a grand one. As matters turned out, however, they were not altogether disappointed. Ika and Lady Ellen passed the stand together, Laertes lying several lengths behind. Opposite the stand, Ika bolted off the course in the direction of the river, and threw Clifford, who was soon on his legs again and running after Mr. Knight’s representative. Ika being now right out of the race, Laertes forged fast to the front. In passing the stand, after running half the distance, Lady Ellen was about a length ahead of Laertes. The latter drew closer up in the turn round from the stand,

and as the two approached the bush a really grand race ensued between them. They raced nock and neck for a considerable distance, and ran into the straight in that position. Some of the cognoscenti even considered it doubtful which would first catch the judge’s eye, but on the owner of Laertes crying out that he would lay £IOO to £2O on the bird’s eye colors, those who were interested in Lady Ellen looked remarkably crestfallen. Mr. Butler’s confidence was not misplaced by the result, Laertes coming in a winner after a brilliant finish by half a length. Time, 3min. 48seo. Ika was caught afterwards and ridden in. HACK EACH, Of 10 Bovs, Entrance, 103. Once round. Post entry; Weight, 10st. This event was won by Mr. Hill’s Lady Grey by a bare neck, Mr. T. Ray’s Annie being second, and Mr. Macara’s Forest Queen a bad third. Mr. Edwards’ Deception, Mr. Devonshire’s Misery, Mr. Bright’s Heretaunga, and Mr. Vallance’s Albert also ran. It was a very exciting race between Lady Grey and Annie, the former ridden by E. Higginson and the latter by Johnson. DISTRICT HANDICAP. Of 60 sovs. Entrance, 1 sov. Acceptance, 2 sovs; second horse to save his stakes. One mile and a half. For horses owned in the district six months previous to entrance. Mr T. Bay’s ch g Diver, aged, Oat (Wintringham).. 1 Mr D. Knight’s b h Lara, G yrs, Ost 111 b (Hayward) 2 Mr H. Gillies’ dun g Orphan, 3 yrs, 7st, and Gib overweight (Nolan) 3 Blue Jacket was scratched at 1.30 p.m. Betting : 6 to 4 on Lara, 2to 1 oget Orphan, 4 to 1 agst Diver, 4 to 1 agst Barbelle, 10 to 1 agst Pretty Girl. There was a very bad start, the horses getting away on unequal terms. Orphan, Lara, and Diver came away to the front, Barbelle and Pretty Girl losing considerably at the scratch. Passing the stand for the first time Lara, Orphan, and the Diver were running neck and nock, Pretty Girl being many lengths behind the trio, and Barbelle as many lengths to the rear of Mr. Lowe’s representative, and both evidently not fit to go the distance at the required pace. At the opposite side of the course Diver moved to the front, Orphan and Lara keeping in close attendance up to the turn coming into the straight. Here Diver improved his lead, Lara making a fruitless effort to collar Mr. Kay’s gelding, Diver winning easily by a length, Lara second, and Orphan a bad third. Time, 2min. 56sec. CONSOLATION HANDICAP, Of 20 sovs. Distance, 1 mile, Ika, 7st 101 b (J. Harris) X Bine Jacket, 7st (Bowe) 2 Black Prince, 7st (Nolan) 3 Betting ; 3 to 1 agst Blue Jacket, even on Ika, 3 to 1 agst Black Prince, and 4 to 1 agst Tim Whiffler. It was a capital finish between Ika and Blue Jacket, the former winning by a head. I had to leave the course before I could ascertain the time. I can’t conclude my notice of this very successful meeting without again thanking Mr. Girdlestone and the other club officials for the great attention and courtesy I received at their hands on both race days.