WAVERLEY-WAITOTARA RACING CLUB.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 957, 10 November 1882, Page 2

WAVERLEY-WAITOTARA RACING CLUB.

OFFICERS : President —Francis Symes, Esq. Vice-Presidents —John Morton and F. R Jackson, Bsqrs. Stewards —Messrs J. W. Duric, W. Wilson, J. Hair, O. Bymes, P. Wilson, W. Brewer, J. Handley. Starter —Mr F. Nicholson. Clerk of Coarse —Mr G. Nicholson. Clerk of Scales— Mr C. I'anson. Ihmdieapper —Mr Alex. Higgle, Timekeeper —Mr A. Kohn, Judge—Mr F. R. Jackson.

The Prince of Wales’ Birthday was celebrated yesterday in this district by a racemeeting of the above Club, on the course at Waverley. The weather was hardly all that could be desired, as a piercing cold wind was blowing from the south, but fortunately no rain fell. It was feared by many that the day would he wet, and about 6 o’clock in the morning, after having a very squally night, appearances were much against the prospect of having a fine day, but as time wore on the clouds dispersed, and be}’ond the cold wind blowing, the day was fine. The course was in good order, and the straight was capital, there being a deal of elasticity in the turf, which did not bear any evidence of the recent rains, as regards being slippy. The lawn did not present quite so neat an appearance, long grass growing, but this was soon trodden down ; still the plot did not look so pleasing to the optics as it would have, bad the grass been cut. On the lawn were the Wanganui City Rifles Band, fifteen strong, under the leadership of. Mr O’Hara, and they discoursed beautiful music. Between the lawn and the saddling paddock was placed a tolalisator, which was presided over by Mr Poole. Nearly £BOO must have passed through the machine, and not a murine r of dissatisfaction arose among the participators as to the working of the machine, or the handing over of the dividends,. which were done without leaving the faintest sign of dishonesty. Persons, of a speculative nature, not fooling inclined to indulge in trying their luck in the belting machine,- could satisfy their wants at the side of (he stand, where a well-known Waverlcyite had one of those useful toys, patronised by all the leading aristocracy, &c., known as old Aunt Sally. Her get-up was immense, in fact she would have passed for a good looking, though somewhat disfigured Maori woman. She was placed in a prominent position near the refreshment booth, without a screen behind her, and it was a great wonder that no one was hurt for it was almost dangerous to pass in proximity to her, sticks flying promiscuously in all directions. Things went all right with Sally until about three o’clock, when some rude men tore her out of the ground and cast her into a ditch, amongst the vociferous yells of a large number who had assembled to see poor Aunty get roughly handled, the crowd not heeding (ho loud remonstrances of the proprietor of her. Near to where the old lady was dethroned, was a game known as “ skittles.” This seemed to be pretty well patronised, a number of adroit bowlers doing well. At the side of the Grand Stand was another game, this taking well with Maoris. An air-gun was used, 1 * and a target nailed up, the one making the bull’s eye getting the “ dividend.” These comprised. the amusements) outside of the horse-racing, and without them the time would have hung much more heavily on the hands of the onlookers, and they filled the blank spaces between the races very well. Quarrels were rather numerous, as also were drunks, but the police gave some of them a fair chance of getting out. of their scrapes, yet their interference in some cases was deemed necessary, when order and regularity would prevail ; but soon some noisy individual would break out, until rows began to lose their excitement. Horsemen were numerous, but there was a marked scarcity of the gentle sex. The cold day may in a great measure account for this. The train ran up to the course, and it is estimated that fully 300 visitors came up by it, which consisted of a large Fairlie engine and eleven carriages. The lawn and grand stand were liberally patronised, although there was room for many more. There was oho very noticeable feature during the day, and that was the desire of some individuals who were determined to make themselves conspicuous by riding to and fro across the course while a. race was being run, in spite of the strenuous efforts of the Clerk of the Course, and at one time something very like a fracas almost

occurred. It is a pity that people knowing the lacing rules should attempt such a thing, and then remonstrate with the Clerk. Ho was there t>» keep the course ch-ar, and he attempted his best. - There were happily no accidents amongst the genera) public, but there were numerous holts among horses which were lied to fences and broke loose, much to the annoyance of their unfortunate owners. Residents and settlers from VVaverley were not very numerous, still there was a good percentage. Patea contributed a few, but not so many as on previous occasions. Messrs Siattei'y and Williams drove down their vehicles, which were well filled. Mr Smiley, of Wanga nui, brought up a team of five spirited nags, and his enterprise should have paid well, as he had a good crowd of gassengers. The buildings that have been erected proved very handy, and are a considerable improvement on tbe old system. The booths were well patronised, and Mr Williams, the Wavcrlcy bilker, catered for tbe public, leaving no reason for complaint The races require little descriplion. Fair fields in nearly every case faced the starter, but the finishes sometimes were rather indiffereu', although it would be a bard matter to s-v a closer finish than the first race, and there was no evidence of foul running the whole day. Spills were not common, only two occurring during theday —one to Hadfield, the rider of JSTgata, and it was stated that ho broke his collar-hone; the other to Johnson, heller known in horsey circles as “ Pompey.” He was riding a horse belonging to Mr Higgle, in the Hack Race. When at tiio far side of the course, it fell heavily at the seventh hurdle, throwing him off violently, the horse treading on his arm. It was thought at first that he was seriously injured, but he was sufficiently recovered to be about in the afternoon. The race for the Guineas will long he remembered as one of the grandest finishes scon on the coast. The victory of St. Clair for the Handicap seemed to bo a surprise to some, but was hardly a boil-over. The ’cute ones were pretty correct in their “ tips’’for many of the races, but were a little at sea in regard to this one. The hack races brought good fields, and there was good competition for this class of racing. The following is a list of the events :

Waverlky and Waitotara Guineas—--105 sovs, with a sweep of three guineas at the post for starters, to go to second

horse ; i£ miles ; colts, Bst lOlbs ; fillies and geldings, Sst slbs. J H Pollock’s b!k f Fishwoman (Laing) 1 8 Powell’s b f Last Chance ... ... 2

R Higgie’s b f Gem ... ... ... 3 W Hately’s hj g Landseer, J D Powdrell’s cr f Daphne, and J W Durie’s Rally also ran.

R Higgie’s Portrait, \V Wilson’s Sweet Home, and J Stevens’ The Orphan were scratched.

£258 in the totalisator, and 101 on (he winner. After four false starts, the field were despatched, and passing (he Stand the.first time were nearly all in a cluster, Fishwoman being last and Daphne looking dangerous. At about the £-mile Daphne began to tail off, and Fishwoman was then approaching the fore horses. Coming into the straight Gem seemed to be going well, and about half-way up the Fishwoman came up, and passed the post, a nose being the distance separating the first, second, and third horses. Time, 2 min 57 sec. Handicap Hurdles— (so sovs; second horse to receive 10 sovs out of stakes ; 2§ miles ; over 9 flights of hurdles, 3ft 9in in height. W Q Nicholson’s ch g Parnell (late

Totarn) lOst 71b 1 G E Wilson’s br g New Year ... 2 W L Martyn’s b g Fungus ... ... 3 .GH Gibson’s b m Dianthus, and Dr Connolly’s b g Ngata also ran. £l3l in the totalisator, 45 on the winner.

Ngaia fell at the fifth hurdle, and Parnell finished up strongly, leaving New Year and Fungus and coming in splendidly.

Time 5 min 20 secs. Hack Hurdles—lo sovs ; once round and a distance ; weight not to be under 10 stone ; open to all horses that have not won an advertised race, hack races excepted. Lady Bab ... 1 Take-in ... 2

Spartan ... ... ... ... 3 Eight started for this event. Flying- Handicap—so sovs ; f mile ; top weight not to exceed 10 stone. J H Pollock’s Fishworaan (Hope) ... 1 O A Dime’s Taipo ... . . ... 2

R Higgles Gem 3 Sincerity was scratched. Six Started. Hack Race. —For this eleven started, and resulted in Mr Powdrell’s Ringleader passing the post first. A protest was entered by the owner of Scud, which was allowed, the stakes being awarded to Mr Durie.

Maiden Plate —4O sovs ; 1£- miles ; weight for age : entrance 3 sovs ; second horse to save stakes ; open to all horses that have never won public money prior to date of entry ; any horse entered for Maiden Plate winning an advertised race between time of entry and date of race to carry a penalty of 61bs. S Powell’s b f Last Chance, 3 yrs, 7st 61b (Potto) ... ... ‘ 1 J H Pollock’s b m Hipporina, 4 yrs,

Bst HU) ... 2 R Higgie’s br f Portrait, 3 yrs, 7st 61b 3 Popbocle also. ran. This was a good race. Time, 2 min. 59 sec.

Waverley and Waitotara Handicap —l5O sovs ; 2 miles ; second horse to receive 20 sovs, and third horse 5 sovs out of the stakes ; winner of any race of the value of 100 sovs after declaration of weights to carry a penalty of 7 lbs ; top weight not to exceed 10 stone ; nomination, 2 sovs ; acceptance, 5 sovs. J Crocker’s ch gSt Clair, 5 yrs, 7st 41b 1 J H Pollock’s Hippodamia 2

J H Pollock’s g g Larry, 6 yrs, 7st 121bs 3 R Higgie’s b f Gem, 3 yrs, and C A Dune’s Taipo also ran. E W Morse’s b m Sincerity, 5 yrs, Bst 101b, and W Hately’s Scotch Mist, 5 yrs, 7st 41b, were scratched. £l7O was in the totalisalor, and only 8 on the winner. ' Hippodamia lead nearly three-quarters of a mile, and was overhauled, St. Clair winning easily. Time, 3 rain. 88£ sec. Steward’s Race, once round the course. Open only to stewards of the W.W. R C. J W Durie’s Scud ... 1 Mr C Hanson’s Take-in... 2

J Morton’s Frivolity 3 For this event there were eleven competitors, and the keenest interest was manifested in the event, old and young members participated in the fun, and it was an extremely hard job to tell the old from the young members, when all were coming up the straight. When the President and one of the Vice-Presidents took their seats in the pigskin, a loud hurrah was given at their pluck and determination in starting, and at the finish the President was carried shoulder high round the saddling paddock. This was a good race, and all the jockeys, done their level best to win

Forced Handicap—2s sovs once round the course ; entrance, winning horses I sov. losing horses 10s. Larry, Bst 1 Taipo, 7st ... ... ... ... 2 Parnell, Gst Tibs... ... • ... ... 3 Only three started. Hack Race. For six started, and ft was won hy Mr Martyn’s Rangitangi. This concluded the day’s sport, whichwas brought to a close at about 6.30.