TOLOGA BAY RACES.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1060, 13 April 1882, Page 2

TOLOGA BAY RACES.

(from our own correspondent). An important event occurring in a small community creat es strong feeling, and the community in Tologa Bay was not exempt from this feeling on the occasion of the races (both before and at the time) held on Monday last. 1 do not want to do the goody-goody business to the Tologa Bay people or anj’ others, but this I will plainly state, that until they are prepared to lay aside the individual animosities when they are brought together for a public object, Tologa Bay will never be able to put forward a good race meeting, or any other public attraction. Of course I could say a great deal more that I could vouch for, but because I have been behind the scenes, it is not for me to say who pulled the strings, but this I say, that I shall speak plainly and I hope no one will take offence, but read and accept my words in the same spirit (that of criticism fair and impartial to my mind) as they are written. Now to commence, the races were advertised to take place on Monday, 10th April, but on Saturday the rain descended, the wind blow, and the floods (in imagination) came, and some of the Stewards thought that the meeting had better be postponed until Wednesday, the 12th, this giving the course a chance, and also the homes which would come from some distance, a spell, before entering upon their hard duty. Man proposes, but he does not always carry his point, and such was the case in this instance. A fuller meeting of Stewards was held even so lute as Monday, at 9.30 a.m., when it was decided to hold the race meeting on the advertised date. Such short notice put the wits and energy of the Tologa Bay people to the test, and mighty poorly they bore the strain, and it is my opinion that if Tologa Bay can’t do more than they did on Monday, they must go to the bottom of tho class straight away. However, about half-past one o’clock some signs of the meeting being held were noticed, and by two o’clock the first race was run. Now coming to the races themselves, when they had actually commenced, I must say the Stewards are worthy of great commendation for the way in which they put the races through, and I cannot omit from my report special mention of Air C. D. Berry, who helped most materially in forwarding the necessary arrangements. For the horses I must give a few lines, and congratulate Mr John Harding and Mr Swainson upon their good fortune, and also Mr J. Trimmer deserves to be heartily congratulated upon the possession of a horse like Sylvio, a good strong upstanding hack, with care Sylvio means money to his owner. And of Mr Harding’s Penguin, well, it is this gentleman’s own fault if this horse docs not prove a small fortune to him. A fine animal in shape, form and condition, and yet not actually trained • it is my opinion when ho comes into proper hands and is set down to his work thoroughly Air Harding and his Penguin will be known considerably beyond the districts of either ’ Tologa or Poverty Bays. Fine weather fortunately favored the meeting, and the course was in very fair order (by the way I must not omit to mention that to Air Murphy the Race Committee are indebted for his kindness in freely granting the use of his section in which the course is, and for which they and others desire to express their thanks). A goodly number of people were on the course during the day, amongst whom I noticed representatives from the households of all our settlers, and numerous visitors from tho coast and Gisborne. Tologa Bay possesses within its boundaries the “sinews of war” sufficient to make a really good yearly race meeting, but until the real-

dents can work amicably together, there never will be due credit done to the place. Now in these two race meetings (this and the one held on the 27th of March) some £l3O has been given in prizes. How much better it would have been had this money been offered in one meeting. Tologa Bay would then rank higher in sporting circles than it does at the present time.

There is some talk of having a meeting with the object of forming a Turf Club for the Bay ; if such can be done, it will be a good thing, and from all I can hear, such a Club would meet with very cordial support from all parts of the district. The Bell, Scales, and Weights had arrived, and the weighing commenced. The first event on the programme was the HANDICAP HURDLE RACE, of not less than 15 sovs. ; distance 2 miles. W. Bailey’s Luck’s All; 9st. 101 b. ... 1 T. E. R. Bloomfield’s Lizard ; 10st ... 2 J. Trimmer’s Sylvio; 9st. ... ... 3 This race brought out three horses, Luck’s All favorite. Sylvio started but only passed the first hurdle, and then pulled up. I think it my duty to say that great praise is due to Mr John Trimmer for starting bis horse (instead of scratching him as he intended doing) so that the full stakes should be run for, and our visitors not sent away with half stakes. The running between Lizard and Luck’s All was grand, the latter only winning .by threequarters of a length. Mr Berry acted in this (and all the races throughout the day) as Judge, and fulfilled his duty to the entire satisfaction of all persons interested. MAIDEN PLATE, of not less than 10 sovs.; distance, miles. S. Swainson’s Rob Roy ; Ost 41b. ... 1 Kutia’s Wild Duck ; Ost. 41b. ... ... 2 Tangi, and Fiji also ran ; Tommy Dodd was scratched. Tho horses got away to a good start, and kept well together for some distance. Fiji was the first to show the white feather, then Tangi, and the race lay between Rob Roy and Wild Duck, the veteran canoeist proving too much for the other aquatic oponent. A protest entered against Rob Roy was disallowed by the Si ewards. PON A’ RACE, of not less than 5 sovs.; distance, 1 mile. F. Hodge’s Tupera; 9st. 1 Al. Mullooly’s 11 ack io ; Bst. 41bs. ... 2

J. Trimmer’s Tommy Dodd; 9st. ... 3 This was a splendid race. Tupera and Haekia sticking together and fighting very hard for first place, but though running very gamely, little lluekia could not shew in front of Tupera. A protest was entered against Tupera, on the ground of being over height (14 hands). UAW A STAKES, of not less than 15 sovs.; distance, 2 miles; welter weights. J. Harding’s Penguin ... ... ... 1 J. Trimmer’s Sylvio ... ... ... 2 Laheen and Luck’s All also started ; Rob Roy was scratched, and Hero did not come to the Bay, thus leaving four horses to struggle for the stakes, and right gamely they went for the prize. It soon became evident that Laheen and Luck’s All had met something to test their metal, and in the test they were found wanting ; between Penguin and Sylvio the race lay, the former winning a grand race by a length. FLYING STAKES, of not less than 7 sovs. distance, 6 furlongs. S. Swainson’s Rob Roy ; 9st. ... ... 1 Kutia’s Wild Duck; 9st. ... ... 2 Kitoa, Naughty Boy, and Liza started. Kalulu was scratched. The remainder got away well together. Naughty Boy running well, but not able to keep up the pace. Tho finish was very exciting, Rob Roy only coining in a length before Wild Duck. These two horses seem very equally matched. HACK RACE, of not loss than 5 sovs.; distance, 1 mile. Albert Rnngiwi’s Muiti 1 F. Hodge’s Tupera ... ... ... 2 Mathieson, Tommy, Pop-it-Down, and Jack also started. Pop-it-Down ran off the course, which was fatal to his chance, otherwise the race seemed a dead certainty to him, with a good lead which he increased at every stride the race was a gift to him but for this mishap. A game struggle near home took place for the leading position, Alaiti proving himself rather more than a match for Tupera. FORCED HANDICAP, of not less than 7 sovs. ; distance 2 miles. J. Harding’s Penguin ; 9st 1 J. Trimmer’s Sylvio; 7st. 91b. ... ... 2 Luck’s All also started. This was a grand race between Penguin and Sylvio, the others soon being “ out of it.” Rob Roy, by-the-by, was scratched. Had Sylvio and Penguin carried equal weights it is hard to say which would prove the better horse. Mr Harding and Air Trimmer must be congratulated upon the possession of horses of such mettle and quality. CONSOLATION, of not less than 5 sovs. ; distance, 1£ miles. T. E. R. Bloomfield’s Lizard ; Bst 121 b. 1 J. Trimmer’s Sylvio; 6st. 121b.| ... 0 Sylvio could not get a rider, the day was far gone, and the attendance became very small, and Maori boys were not to be be had, consequently Mr Trimmer decided not to send his horse, and Lizard walked over, making the only race in the day in which half money was paid.