MARLBOROUGH RACES.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 238, 31 January 1860, Page 3

MARLBOROUGH RACES.

[BY OUR OWN REPORTER.| j On*-Wednesday last the old race ground near Mr. Bryden's was after 2 years again decorated with the flags of booths, distance post, starting post, <fee, &c. At an early hour the inhabitants of the surrounding districts began to gather together, and continued arriving by instalments until the last race was running; many making up their minds t<> camp for the night in order to be ready for the Thursday's sport. Flags of all sorts sizes and colors were freely displayed, and the wind which had been a gale from the south-west on the Tuesday, Had subsided into an' only refreshing breeze from the north-east on Wednesday ; it was, however sufficiently drying in its nature to cause many "layings of the dust " amongst the visitors, sandwiches and cakes, and the more substantial viands were plentifully supplied, but the lighter portions, such as the bread and cake department would by'the end of the day have supplied all the painters in the province with a good substitute for pumice stone. Some delay was experienced by the weighing machine not having weighed anchor at the proper time, and it was 12 o'clock before the dray with it "dragged its slow length along." Preliminaries, however, having been adjusted, the first heat for the Ladies Purse was run. The following is a copy of the horses entered, thexaces of the first day, and the regulations. '"•■■ ■' Wednesday. January 25. The LADIES' PURSE of 20 soys. Entrance 1 soy. No weight, to be under lust 41b. Second hmsv<~to save his stake". DLstiuice, once'round. Heats. '.Two horses to start, or no nice. Mr. Robinson's b g William Tell (blue) JMr.«Troloye's g g Wyndhain, i yrs (blue jacket, black csp) Sir. V. Hewitt's b.g Bushman, o yrs (red with blue sash; red cap) Mr. P. M'Rac'.s g g Sportsman, 3 yrs (b)ue and pink) The SHEARERS' PURSE of 20 per cent, .of subscrijitions realised. Entrance L soy. Weight for «ae. N.T.O. weights. Distance, once round. Heats, Three horses to start, or ru race ; second horse to save his stake. Mr. 'DickehsoirV br g Harkaway, 5 yrs (bine junket, . blackcap)" Mr. W, Wallace's b g Tommy, 3 yrs (white and blue • • jacket and cap) Mr. V. Hewitt's b g Hushman, 5 yrs (red, with blue sash; red cap) Jlr. A. I Farley's c g Gift, 3 yis. (pink and black stripe, ■ white cap") The FIRST Ma OK RAGE of £10 per cent, of subscriptions realized. Entrance 10s. Gutcb weights. Distance, once round. Heats. Three horses to 6tart, or no nice. • T.ie HACK RACK of £8 per cent, of subscriptions realized. Entrances 10s. Catch weights.l Distance, once round. Three horses to start, or no rac«. The winner ot the First Hack Race not to enter.

The first heat of the First Hack Eace to be ran after the first heat of the Lndies' Purse.

The .second heat of the First Hack Race to be run alter the first heat of the Shearers1 Purse.

Mot »imm than half'-an-hour to elapse between any Qftfye heats. The first heat for the Ladies' Purse was wel protested by Wyndham and Bushman, the forme 1' winning by a neck ; the running gave token of* good day's sport, and the betting was even on thft two horses, the majority of the non-betters, howjever^atiil holding their opinion of Mr. Hewitt's feorse.

-At the clt.se of this heat the bell was soon rung for the first heat of the fjack l^ace for which there were.6 starters; this was determined in favor of Stockman, Mr. Hewitts horse • a gelding of Mr. John Watts'making a good second; and the rest Btnvhere, Mr. Robinson's ppn\ r, however, giving indications that it might yet prove a dangerous customer. .

The second heat of the" Ladies' Purse came next and was well won by Bushman, thus. leaving the pilm of victory to be run for by himself and VVyndham, which gave rise to considerable excitement this being the race of the meeting; on the taird heat Bushman won by two lengths amid the applause of nearly all present. In the second heat of the Flack Race, Mr. Robinson's'pony came in firsthand held the same position at the termination of the third. The Shearer's Stakes, the second ( race of importance, was ran between only three horses, Tommy being scratched. Bushman having already done three miles in gallant style, it was hardly expected that he would come in the head of the trio, especially as his'owner drew the worst place fjr him, he did it • however] most gallantly, his opponent, Gift, being the only horse which came near him. Harkaway was soon left 'behind, and although he made some good running at half-way, gaining on the leaders, he soon shewed that lie bad not the bottom to bring him up to even a decent third. The second beat of this race caused much disappointment, for Bushman, who had the race in liis hands, seemed to prefer the corner where he |)ad left some oats, throwing his jockey, and running off the course, thus leaving the victory for tyift. Had tlie last named horse been ridden by a jockey who had known his powers, and used to a racing course, the result of the first beat would in oil' opinion have been different.

Another Hack Race closed the afternoon's amu.semeat, at which there were three starters, Mr. IJickenson, who rode his own horse, winning the race.

All assembled seemed to highly enjoy the sport provided, and with the exception of an accident to a Mr. Mason, who was thrown froni his horse* fracturing his lower arm, the day's proceedings terminated without any unpleasant remembrances. Many of the parly proceeded toßeaverton, where ■ w ample Rupply of crt&tu*© coinibrts had. been I |*ovi(i«d by Mir, JPikt^ of tlnj Reaxer Hptek

Cricket Maxch-—A meeting ot the. married and single members- of. the Nelson;-Cricket Club dissembled in Mr.' Lewthwaite's paddock, Tbi Toi Valley, last Saturday. ''The1 bachelors mustered to the number of 15, whilst the Benedicts were only 9, resulting in the defeat of the " worscr halves.'' A match will come off oti Friday next between the two clubs of this city. Wo understand that the Mechanics will offer a challenge to the whole Province.