TEMUKA RACES.

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 86, 12 October 1878, Page 2

TEMUKA RACE S.

Thursday, Oct 10th, 1878. As the time approached for the opening of this meeting, 1 p.m., there was a considerable amount, of doubt in the public mind as to whether the races would be hild that day. A steady rain hao fallen all morning, and it showed no s : gn of ceasing. Several thought they could distinguish signs of a clearing up, but the wish must have been “father to the thought.” Too many objections, however, exist against postponing a race meeting if it can be got off at all, and the proposal to postpone was never seriously considered by those most interested. A little after one o’clock a start was made from town for the course—the old one on the open ground between the school and the cemetery. Wet as it was a large number of Macintoshcd and Ulsterod males made their way to the course. The weather soon began to improve, and by three had becom§ quite fine, continuing fine throughout the rest of the day. Before the meeting closed there must have been between four and five hundred people present. Nearly all were men. ladies not caring to turn out at the commencement on account of the rain, nor later, when it became fine, because it was too late. The arrangements of the coui’se were makeshift, of course, but they answered their purpose. The judge found a box on the back seat of a trap, propped up by a couple of stakes. The judge’s associate, shall we sa3 r , put up the numbers in chalk on a blackened board The ‘straight’ was fenced in with stakes and ropes. A good saddling-p(idclock was constructed of hurdles, add tents were erected for the use of the Committee and the riders. The grand stand was the natural level of the country. It was larger than the grand stand at Flemington, and both horse and foot were admitted indiscriminately, and without charge. The races, with one exception, were well contested, and consequently exciting There was not much betting on the ground as ftxr as we could learn, beyond the common “ tw r o drinks.” The prompt settlementjof such bets, and the moistening of lips dried by excitement created a full stream over the bar of the refreshment booth. A few fellows got out of their depth, and were taken oft'their legs, or nearly so. Towards the end a smaller few lost their heads, and went into a convenient gnlly to help each other to find them. With this exception the meeting was very jwdorlcy, and the visitors enjoyed themselves very well. Two wheels of fortune and a lottery stand were wedged about during the whole afternoon, and the proprietors must have reaped a pretty good harvest. If the purchaser of the refreshment booth did not also make a good thing out of his spec it must have been owing to the threatening weather at the commencement deterring him from laying in a sufficient stock of vendibles. The smaller sports were conspicuously absent, and no wonder ; who, for instance, would assault Aunt Sally with a wet and dirty

stick, and when enveloped in a heavy ovei-coat 1

At 2.5 the bell rang for weighing out for the first event, the Handicap Hurdle Race of 30sovs, distance, 2 miles, overß flights of hurdles. MrNeilson’sTe Wbetmnarama list7lb

(D. O’Brien) 1 MrDevery’s Agent, 10stl21b(Hankin’.) 2 Mr Deßenzy’s Sankey list 31b (Shackleton) 3 Mr M‘Donald's Deceiver, 9st 51h (Moore) 0 Ivanhoe and Pakeha accepted for this race, but did not appear. The lot got away from a rather bad start, Deceiver showing the way. Te Whetn had overtaken him at the first hurdle, the Agent clearing it last. At the second hurdle some sort of muddle occurred, the Agent being forced of the hurdles by Deceiver, who came down and got away. At the next hurdle Sankey left the course, and gave in. The race now lay between To Whetn and Agent, the latter having to make up for a good deal of time lost through his missing the second hurdle. Te Whetu, taking it easy, allowed the other to recover so much ground, that on passing the stand barely two hundred 3 r ards separated them. Durring the next round O’Brien took it so easy that he allowed the Agent to overhaul him completely, and had to “let out” at last, only winning by half a length. Maiden Plate, district race of 25sovs, one and a quarter miles. Mr C. Story’s C istout, 9st 111 b (Walton) 1 Mr A. Wadsworth’s Eva, Bst lib (Webster) 2 Mr Hamilton’s Stormbird, 9st 51b (Moore) 3 Mr M‘Calluni’s Maid of Ayr, 9st 31b (Melvin) 0 Mr Delicnzy’s Sankey, 9st 31b (Collins) 0

All five got away to a splendid start, and passed the goal the first time at a good pace. The riders meant business, as energetic cries of !- keep out!” “keep out T as they passed, evidenced. The reply was a common one, “go to—” Stormbird got a slight lead at starting, and kept it for about half the race, the rest keeping close at his heels. About a quarter of a mile from borne Eva beaded him, to be headed in turn by Castout, who came in first a length in front of Eva, Maid of Ayr third, Stormbmd fourth. This was as good a race as was ever seen in the district. Mr Wadsworth, the owner of Eva, immediately lodged a protest against Castout, on the ground that his age was greater than that given on entering him. The protest is not yet decided.

Publicans' Purse Handicap, district race of 25sovs, one and a half miles. Mr C. Story’s Castout, 8-t 81b (Moore) 1 Mr 0. Oldfield’s Fisbook, Bst 131 b

(Velvin) 2 Mr F. Brown’s Manilla, Bst (Nicbolls) 3 Mr Brosnahan’s Violet, 7st 121 b (Cornelius) 0 Mr Wadsworth’s Eva, 7st 21b (Derauth) 0 Mr Do Renzy’s Black Bess, 7st (Hobbs) 0 Violet got a little advantage at the start, and kept it np for half the race, Fisbook and Castout coming next. On passing the post the first time Violet had a long lead, but at the upper turn Fishook and Castout began to overhaul her, and on reaching the starting place both had passed her, Black Bess and Manilla having a good show, Eva a long way behind, and apparently done. Castout and Fishook ran neck and neck for the last half mile. Both rode hard through the last hundred yards, Gistout winning a very excbing race by only half a head, Manilla third, Violet fourth. Black Bess struck and fell over a tipsy fellow, who ran on the course ns the h srses came up the straight. It is a marvel the man was not killed outright, considering how he was “mixed up” with the mare’s hoofs. He did not seem greatly hurt, however. The mare’s rider was a good deal shaken, but was soon ad right again, while, judging, from her going afterwards, she did not suffer much. Temuka Cup Handicap of 40 sovs. Open race. Two miles. Mr Neilson’s Te Whetumarama (Derritt) ... ... ... ... ... 1 Mr M‘Donald’s Deceiver (Nicholls) ... 2 Te Whetu led the first round to the quarter mile, when Deceiver went up, and the two ran side by side past the post. Deceiver then bolted off the course, and Te Whetu finished the race by cantering the next round. The Agent was s cratched for this race. Hack Selling Race of 15 sovs; winner to be sold for T2O. Half-mile heats. first heat. Mr Deßenzy’s Sankey ... ... ... 1 Mr De Renzy’s Black Bess ... ... 2 Mr Lawin’s Polly ... ... ... 3 Mr G. H. Thompson’s Malabar ... 4 Sankey and Black Bess headed the race from first to last, running almost a dead heat, Sankey winning by a nose, Polly a good third, and Malabar fair fourth. SECOND HEAT. Sankey took the lead at starting, but Polly overtook him, and won by a neck. FINAL HEAT. Polly (Hobbs) 1 Sankey (Derritt) 2 Sankey went ahead, but was soon collared, and the two raced neck and neck to the distance, when Polly drew away, and won by six lengths. This conclusion created no end of amusement, the winner being a rough little beast, with a back as hollow as the letter U. Everyone was taken by surprise. The little mare looked the picture of misery before starting, but she showed that she was made of good stuff. She was offered for sale as required by the rule of the race, but no bid was offered. While entries were being made for the Congelation, Mr M'Lean offered Mr Boyd Thompson’s thoroughbred entire Blondin for sale. After a little competition, he was knocked down to Mr D. O’Brien for 71 guineas. Consolation Stakes of 15 sovs. One ■ mile. Mr Devery’s Agent , 9st (Derritt 1 Mr McDonald’s Deceiver, 7st 101 b, (Moore) 2 The two horses kept pretty close together throughout the race, the Agent going easily, while Deceiver was ridden hard. Won by two lengths. There was some talk of getting up a trotting race after the conclusion of the Consolation, but the lateness of the hour prevented this being done.