PATEA JOCKCY CLUB PACES.

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 61, 10 November 1875, Page 2

PATEA JOCKCY CLUB PACES.

—- Those races commenced yesterday, and were, ns |l‘ar as racing l went, excellent in every respect. The holds wore good, and the various events were well contested. On Monday last it was thought that the races would, of necessity, be postponed. The weather on that day was simply abominable; it rained, hailed, and blew great guns, and, altogether, scared a great

many from venturing. It was bad on Monday all day, doubtful during the night, and very threatening yesterday morning. The consequence was that, several who would have visited (he races stayed away —the more delicate of the fair sex being special and regretted absentees. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, the course was very well patronised, there being between live and six hundred present at least, including an immense majority of the mounted division, and a great, many ladies. The cavalry were greatly in excess of the infantry on the occasion, and this may bo deemed characteristic of the district. • Every part of the district, contributed: its quota of visitors and a large ■number of Wanganui residents were present. The weather was not altogether unfavorable, and no rain fell during the day, but it was bleak and cold,, and tin’s matter, if not a damper, at least some chill on’ the proceedings. Whether. owing to these atmospheric influences or to other causes, Aunt Sallies, Rouge et Noir, Roulette, and every gambling device, in fact, common to racecourses, were conspicuous by their absence. As far as these were concerned, the most straitlaced might have traversed the course without ollence in this respect. Mr Lloyd we may say, supplied creature comforts under a very uncomfortable shelter, and a “ refreshment booth,” at which only teetotal drinks -were supposed to be rendering, divided public patronage with him. We may say, from personal experience, that the liquors supplied by Mr Lloyd were in quality far in advance of the canopy under which they were consumed, but this no doubt will be remedied to-day. The course was in exceedingly good condition considering the late heavy rains. Ther ■ were very few soft places, and in the

greater part of the running .ground, 1 lit; turf was elastic and in excellent condition. It is an excellent course with one drawback, and that is that the straight run in is situated in its lowest part.. The consequence of this is, that those on foot, or on horseback, cannot sec the horses at the back of the course, and thus much of the interest of the race is lost. Were the club in a position to erect a proper stand, it would not matter to those wiio choose or were able to ail'ord the contingent expense, but as it is only those who, on horseback 1 pursue the horses racing, can form an idea of the changes of their positions. Apropos of that, it is most strange that the stewards allow a lot of galloping individuals, wc might also say maniacs, to race over the ground and put pedestrians to flight. More than that, how it is that these people are permitted to canter or gallop over the. running track, already soft enough through bad weather, is, as Lord Dundreary says, “ more than any fellah can understand.’’ That is however a matter for the. club and the owners of horses to arrange ; we can only say that it is not permitted by any dull, unless of the most primitive, descri p lion, in the known racing world. Whilst grumbling wo might .as well have it out,

hut trust that complaint will bo accepted in the good spirit in which it is meanlTo begin with, there was neither judges) stewards, or other stand of any kind. Captain Blake, as judge, did not exactly sit on a rail, but stood on the rails of the saddling paddock to give his Hat. There was no weighing room, (hat ceremony being performed under (lie scrutiny of an unlimited number of spectators in the saddling paddock, without shelter of any kind. The dressing room for tho jockeys was a canvass partition that did equal duty for a dining and dressing room. As to a distance post that was ,a matter unknown, or at least nnliionght of, and the manner in which the course was staked out can be very greatly improved on, without, extraordinary exertion on the part, of the authorities. As to n black board or its substitute, on which notification of scratcliiugs, entries for hack, or other post entry races, could and should be placarded, there was none. People had to discover the entries for tho various hade races in the best way they coidd, and tin; best way was a very bad one in deed. As to a telegraph showing the numbers of the starters and the numbers of tho horses placed, no such mechanism had ever entered the heads of the stewards. Altogether the races wore a muddle for want, of management, no one in charge, apparently, knowing much about the duties they had undertaken. We must however make some exceptions. Mr Meßae was most diligent and painstaking in his stewardship, Dr. Croft at least wss present in the saddling- paddock, an 1 the other Stewards were—somewhere. Captain Blake did his duty from his precarious judicial bench excellently, and Mr Davis made an admirable Clerk of the Course, indeed he showed more Tcnowlcdge of his business than any other officer on the ground. At the same lime a general want of mnnagemnt was obvious, and a change I'or the better is most desirable in future meetings.

Wc have already said that the lower class of gambling was absent, and wc may add that betting of all kinds was remarkelily slack. Even sweeps were difii. cultii s, ami were generally confined to the hazard of halfcrowns. One gentleman certainly vociferously offered odds against horses whose chances were regarded as hopeless and seemed to regard himself as rather an injured individual, because people were shy cither of him or In’s proposals. Beyond this, no one ventured to be speculative, and if any one went prepared “to make a book” he must Jjave liec-n greatly d.i pp o i 11 1 cd.

With respect to the racing, it was exceedingly good, though descriptions of the various events must he nccessnrity somewhat scanty, owing to the imperfect moans of observation referred to above.

As there was HtoraMy no belling, wc cannot quote what did n >t exist, There was, however, groat interest exhihited in the various races, thougli.it did not fiiiol vent in wagering. The first race was the Produce Stakes, fur which the whole of the live competitors showed up. .Maid of the Mill was m ide a hot favorite, ns far as the very limited speculation went. She was in splendid condition, a little too heavy if anything, hut a credit to her trainer, F. Potto. She was beaten, hut not disgracefully, and owing, as far as we could judge, to her swerving under the whip. Flora McDonald is a little pocket piece, but unlike the maid above referred, seemed to have been trained a little fine. The event proved that she was not too fine and her success were hailed with great cheering, her owner being evidently a popn’ar man. Elsie looked well and ran a game mare but was not quite good enough in hj r noviciate for her company. Doctor was a deceiver, for though he was as good- ns condition could make him, be was soon in ’difficulties, and was compelled to take a somewhat ignominious back seat. Ho is a good horse but his action is too high f< r galloping and, from his exhibition of yesterday his staying powers may be doubted. Resolution, like Maid of the Mill-, carried a large amount of beef, but all opportunity of judging birn in this race was put an end to by his disposing of his chance, and his jockey on starting in the unceremonious way lie did. His subsequent running, in the Ladies’ Purse, proved him to bo a first-class colt, and bis owner will yet see Resolution’s- number hoisted at the herd of affairs, on more noted fields than those of the Wairoa. In the. District Cup, Whitefoot was thought much of, but oh what grounds we f dl to see. He is a big upstanding horse, with no special points, and Lis “ forte. ” to

quote Crtem-i- Ward, is not radng. Ben Nevis was scratched so calls for no comment. Folly is one of the best shaped animals that showed on' the course, thongli his foremost understanding must lie in rather delicate health, judging from the leather lacing to which t hey 'were enveloped prior to starling. Wildhriar may he or might bea hurdle-racer, hut,ifheachieves distinction over sticks, it must he. owing to his jumping, rather than to his speedy capabilities. The Maid of the Mountain is a picture, and in tiic very pink of condition, but she is very light, and two miles or over is too much further. She has the peculiarity of the celebrated English horse Lord Lyon, in having four white stockings. In the Hcnri'y, an unexpected horsenailed Eloper sloped with the prize. The Purse was looked forward to wiiuWj-it interest, though it was deemed ahvlfl(jf“ a moral "for Mcdora. The old mare stripped splendidly, and showed that she was the Medina of old. by the clear space she made with her lends when saddled. B m Nevis again an ahs mtee. iLun-tliorough is a compact wiry horse tint will vet s-e a heller day than yesterday where he was unfortunate. Falcon has a great reputation m his own district, hut did not maintain it, in tin’s race. L’csohilhm wi have already referred M, hut may add that, had it not been for his had start, ho would in ail probability have put the 40 sovs. in dispute to his owner’s credit. The other hack races do not cal: for comment, being neither more urn less stnpl I than usual, though at the- same time interesting - to a large number of person- - . Tlu; following - is a report of the races. I’liolHXK STAKE'-;. Of 40 .sovs. ; weight for age ; open to all horses notjiaving run for public money at the time of entrv. Mr Handley’s brm Flora vs (WaLer) ... _ ... ... ‘ i Mr Qniiilivan’s bile in Maid of i ho Mountain .4 yrs. (Donaly)... ... ... o Mr D uric’s gr f Elsie 3 yrs. (O’Connor) 3 Mr EhiehlL bg Doctor age-.I (Harrison) D I Mr Powdcrcil’s he Resolution •- 3 yrs (Sargent) bolted ... ... ’<) There was but little betting, Maid of the Mill having the cad. At .starting Resolution bucked and bolted, lea vine - his rider behind him. At the start Maid of the Mill jumped awnywith the Lad. and made 1 lie running, Doctor taking - second place, Flora M'Doiiald lying third, and Lisin last. On reaching (lie back of the conrs >, the second round, Elsie took second place, and a good race ensued ho no. On entering the straight Maid of tho Mill hid the lead, but. Flora McDonald came up with a rush, and steel and whipcord were brought into play. The Maid still lucid a slight load, but swerving nn Lr the whip, allowed Flora to- hou.l her, and the Liter won a splendid race ley half a length, Elsie a good third. Time, "Lain. lOsoc. PATE A DISTIUUT CEP. Of 50 sovs. Entrance. 4 sovs. Weight for age. Upon to. all comers. Mr Jackson’s g g Folly, G yrs (Lloyd) 1 Mr Quinlivan’.sli m Maid of the MiR, 4 yrs (Potto) ... ... ... ... ‘ Whitefoot and Wild brim* also started. On the word being given WJ.i.'efoot took the lead, with Wildhriar second, and various changes lock place during the race. On nearing bom ■, however, at tin; last turn but one, Foliy shot to the front, and won in a canter, Maid of the Moimtain second. The Scurry w is won by a grey hors:; named Sloper, beating three others. la in ; ;s’ urnsE. Of 40 sovs. Welter weights. OentLirum fillers. Entrance, 3 can's. M‘Rac and Nicholson's b m Modern, aged (Nicholson) ... ... ... 1. Mr Powderedi’s be Resolution, 3 vrs (Wright) ’ " 0 Mr Fraser’sbg Whitefoot, (i yrs (Turner) 3 Gainsborough and Falcon also ran. At, the start Resolution hint fully a hundred yards before lie was set going-, Mcdora taking (ho lead from the first. ’ This she maintained with little varia i >u throughout the race. Resolution, however, made up his lost ground wonderfully, challenged and made a game effort to overhaul he -, bring her to the whip to retain the lead, but lie failed to (pipe reneh, and the mare won by a short half length. This concluded tho races of yesterdav. To-day will he the .jumping day, and the great rrce of Iho meeting.