WAERENGA-A-HIKA RACE MEETING.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 440, 29 December 1876, Page 2

WAERENGA-A-HIKA RACE MEETING.

The first meeting of the Waerenga-a-hika Jockey Club took place on Boxing Day last, and, taken collectively, may fairly be said to have been a success. The weather was all that could be desired : and, under the genial influence of a warm sun, tempered by a deliciously cool sea breeze, a large number of visitors assembled on the course, in Mr Breingan’s paddocks With one or two exceptions the management of the races appeared to give satisfaction, and there were few hitches inseparable from a young club. The booths were well patronised, and the holidaymakers generally—from the young sprig on his dashing charger, to paterfamilias in the family car—enjoyed themselves fully. The course is not well adapted for observation by the general public, on account of its flatness. Even mounted on the highest, vehicles, one sees with difficulty, and looses sight of the horses, now and then in their progress round the course. We hope the clubs will join their efforts in the erection of a stand, which would soon repay its cost. The J udge’s “ box,” too, as the place is called where the race adjudicators stand, is a barbarous relic of an unknown age, and not to be met with elsewhere than in New Zealand, and probably nowhere iu it except Poverty Bay. Hitherto it has consisted—and so ; t did on Tuesday last—of an extremely dilapidated tumbrel or dray, in, or on, which the judge had to keep his attention well divided between the possibility of “coming tograss”in a very precipitate and undignified fashion, and losing the colors of his horses. Air Baker, was, however, equal to the occasion, and, we believe, made au efficient functionary. Mr Winter was “ all there," at his old post as starter, a better could not be found ; and Mr Benson, kept the course clear without giviug offence —a difficult thing to do. Shortly after 11 o’clock the bell rung for the

1. HURDLE RACE, of £lB : second horse to receive £3 out of the stakes; welter weights for age, one and a half miles, over six flights of hurdles, 3ft. 6in. high. Mr Horsfall’s b g Whitefoot, aged

(Major Pitt) 1 Mr P. Breingan’s b g Shark, aged (D. Munn) 2 Mr Hareone’s b g Robert, aged, (Maori) ... 3 Mr Caulton’s g g Cossack, 4yrs(Troy) 0 A very fair start was effected, Whitefoot jumping off with the lead, the others following in about the above named order. Cossack baulked however, at the first hurdle and was soon out of the race Robert’s chance wasequally remote after the first half mile, and the race lay between Whitefoot and Shark. The latter who was well ridden by D. Munn did liia utmost to overhaul Mr Horsfall’s horse, but without effect Whitefoot .winning easily by about four lengths. Munn, Shark’s rider, entered a protest against Whitefoot, fora “cross,” which is not yet settled.

2. HACK HURDLE RACE, of £8; second horse to receive £2 out of the stakes ; post entries, lOst up, once round the course. Mr G. Burnand’s b g Chanticleer, (A. Pritchard) 1 Mr M’Lean’s br g Ratu, (Pita) ... 2 Mr Davis’ g g Zephyr, (Bousfield)... 3 Mr Pa’s b m Jane, (D. Munn) ... 0 Mr A. Parsons’ Rocket, (Troy) ... 0

This was an excellent race. Chanticleer at once showed up in front, with the evident intention of making the pace warm for the rest, but he came toil'grief at the third hurdle, throwing his rider a veritable cropper. Nothing daunted, however, Pritchard caught and remounted “ old Chanty ” in the most plucky manner, and overtaking the other horses one after another, won by a length amid the cheers of the spectators. 3. TRIAL STAKES, of £8; second horse to receive £2 out of the stakes ; for all horses not over three years old that have never started for an advertised race ; colts, Bst. 101 b., fillies and geldings Bst 51b; ■* distance 1 mile.

Mr Poynter’s r f La Bonne, 3 yrs ' (G. Wyllie) 1 Mr Nasmith's r f Mizpah, 3 yrs (F. Goldsmith) 2

Mr Caulton's Sultan was scratched and the race was a gift to Mr Poynter’s filly, who won as she liked. 4. COUNTY STAKES, of £25; second horse to receive £5 out of the stakes; open to all horses in Cook’s County on or before the Ist November; 1876 ; 2 miles; weight for age. Mr P. Breingan’s b g Shark, 6 yrs (D. Munn) 1 Mr T. Goldsmith’s bg Rainbow, aged (F. Goldsmith) ... 2 Mr Burnand ns g g Al, aged, (F. McCartney) ■ ... 3 Major Westrup’s br g Zouave, 4 yrs (E. Kelly) 0

This was a very good race, some interest being excited as to how Mr Breingan’s horse would travel on the flat. A fair start was effected, but at the mile and a quarter, Zouave, who was running well and strongly, was cannoned against and came to grass, giving his rider a nasty shaking. Al was nowhere, and the race was left to Shark and Rainbow, the former winning by about a length. 5. MAIDEN PLATE, of £l2 10s; second horse to receive £2 10s out of the stakes ; for all horses that have never won an advertised race, matches excepted, at the time of this meeting ; one and a half miles ; weight for age. Mr W. Blank’s rf Silvia’, 3 yrs 6st 121bs, (S. Langford) ... 1 Mr Poynter’s r f La Bonne, 3 yrs 6st 121bs, (F. Bousfield) ... 2 Air Burnand ns b tn Fly-by-night 4 yrs Bst 91bs, (A. Greene) ... 3 Mr Caulton’s g g Cossack Bst lllbs (Goldsmith) 0 Air Kennedy’s blk m Maiden Star, 4 yrs Bst lllbs, (Butler) ... 0

Great interest was excited in this race, the contest lying wholly between horses born in the district, the Blondin, having been scratched owing to the untimely death of his owner. i Tlte flag dropped to a good start, the (horses getting, well away together, but soon discernible that the between S'lvia .o<-l La D-.nne,

former winning after a good tussle by about three lengths.

6. LADIES’ PURSE, of £l5; second horse to receive £2 10s out of the stakes ; 1| miles, welter weight for age ; gentlemen riders, professional riders to cany 71bs. extra. Mr Blank s r f Sylvia, 3 yrs, 9st 21bs (D. Munn) 1 Mr Horsfall’s b g Whitefoot, aged 12st 1 lb, (Major Pitt) ... ... 2 Mr P. Breingan’s b g Skysail, aged 12st 11b, (Goldsmith) ... ... 3 Mr P. Breingan’s ch g Sultan, aged 12st lib, (Brooking) 0 Mr Kennedy’s rg Tawera, aged 12st 11b, (Butler) 0

This was a capital race ; many considered that it was a gift to Whitefoot, others again were disposed to favor Skysail, Sylvia’s chance being considered very small, owing to her exertions in the preceding race.- Air Blank’s game little filly showed, however, that she possessed more bottom than she was credited with, and she won a well contested race by two lengths.

7. CONSOLATION HANDICAP of £7 10s for all beaten horses during the meeting. Distance once round the course. Handicap to be adjusted by the stewards or whom they may appoint. Air P. Breingan’s Skysail, 9st 81bs (T. Goldsmith) ... 1 Mr G. Burnand ns Fly-by-night

9stBlbs ... ... ... ... 2 Air Kennedy’s Maiden Star, Bst lOlbs 3 Air Burnand’s Al 0

This was also a very fair race; the horses got well away together, Skysail, who was kept well in hand throughout, being pushed to the front and winning easily by several lengths. 8. HACK FLAT RACE, of £5 ; once round the course, post entries. Mr Burnand’s Chanticleer (Goldsmith) 1 A Alaori’s Reindeer, (Maori rider)... 2 Mr Kelly’s Slim Jim 3 The following were also entered — Hair’s Yara, Best’s Shamrock, Bousfield’s Larrikin, Caldwell’s Lantern, Tarr’s Jack, Greene’s Ladybird, Hale's January. A capital race, the winner passing the post only by a neck. This concluded a most satisfactory day’s sport, the promptitude with which the races were called on, enabling the spectators to leave the course at about half past five.