New Year's Sports.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2772, 2 January 1878, Page 2

New Year's Sports.

Mr Frederick Bennett, lessee of the Tarnru Gardens, having generously postponed the carrying out of his programme of sports at tho Tararu Gardens on Boxing Day so as not to clash with the Hospital Demonstration, the stewards at the late race meeting resolved to assist him by all means in their power. A few horse races were added to tho programmo, -the carrying out of which took place yesterday. From an early hour the carriages of the Ornhatnstbwu and Tararu Tramway, and tho various cabs and other conveyances were-rbusily employed taking out their living freight for a day's enjoyment at the gardens, and at about half past eleven there must liave been fully 2000 people there, besides several hundreds on the flat who desired to have a closer viewof the horse races. Mr J. C. Williams acted as clerk of the scales, and Mr S. Young ac starter, Mr F. Wells as clerk of the course, and , they and the other members of tho Committee performed their functions to the satisfaction of all eoncernod. The first event was the — HURDLE RACE (Htwdicnp)—ls aora. Distance, 2 miles. Entrance, 30s j second liorso to cave his etakr.^ "'_': j.. Tho following horses started :—\ Mr John Lynch's Skjrocket, 10dt... Mr Casey's Potentate, list- .T^fe Mr Pnntor'B Tuurnngn, lOst. 71b 0 Mr Kelly's Widow Turpin, lOat 0 Mr NicholU' Firefly, 'Jil 0 Mr Hoskins, being dissatisfied at the handicapping of J?iretail, did not bring his horso* to the scratch. The other five all came up, and Mr Xoung mnde a splendid start. The horses kept well together until the first hurdle was reached. Most of the horses took it, but Fiiefly fell, throwing her rider, and then bolted across the course. At the next hurdle Skyrocket and Potentate alone got over. Tho rest were virtually out of tho race, but a pretty fair race homo ensued between Skyrocket and Potentate. Tho former never baulked at a hurdle, but Potentate baulked several times, thus losing tho advantage gained by his superior speed. The race terminated in a victory for Skyrocket, Potentate coming in about a hundred yards behind. Hogkins rode the winner, and Johns Potentate. The performance of Skyrocket was a very good one, as the same morning he had been ridden from Coromandel. MICN'd RACE—ISO yiirds; 1 Pair of Boots. Entrance, la. This event took place at a small course n,ear the pond in the gardens. Peady, Sutler, Isaac (a native), and Thorburn were entered. % Mr $Toung started them, and a good race ensued betireen the native and young Thorburn. At the iust lap tho former hustled the latter and put him out, Jsaac coming in winner. It was ijccided to make the two ruu over again,

when it terminated in a rather easy victory for Isaac.

GIRLS' RACE—IOO yards j firet prizo a Pair of Hoots } socomi, v Pair of Karrings. Knlnineo, Is.

About twenty little girls entered for this CTont, and were handicapped according to size Wo bciird o»o gentleman eager to make a few remarks, say that it was not proper to hare handicaps in a maiden race; A little girl named Mary Hunter won tho first prize, Miss Trevorthen being second. We did not hear who was third, as we got out of tho noiso Tjmdft by about eighteen young ladies provstisij; against tho decision of the judge. Tho .stewards again adjourned to the race-course on tho ihit for the —

JiUlien-'AN HACK lI ACE, for 5 eovn.— ..Disi'vuct-, tvv.t'p round Llio course : oitch wcijjhis. E»|rnncj, 10*, -. %

The following wore ': Mr Wells' Sir (l,~,~rg<> Qroy— (Johns) ... 1 Mr Phillips' Gi'ariio—fUurlfy) 2

A slashing race ensued during *he first round, the horses almost ruunimr ijholc and neck. During the aeeond round it was noticed, that Charlio lookod fagged, while the^Sibcr appeared ns fresh as .ever, and soon put several yards between him and his opponent, and came ia a winner by several lengths,

MAORI HORSE RACE—S aova. Distance, Jwice around Iho course. Post Entry, 10s.

Kakino, Titokowaru, and Taranoki were entered, Tito being the favorite. Tho horses got away well together, and after an exciting race, Taranaki earae in winner, the favorite being last. Titokowaru was in hardly so good condition as during the late race meeting.

BOYS' RACE- 150 yards; let prize, 7a 6d ; second, 23 6d. Entrance, Is.

This event, for which a large number entered, was well contested being run in heats. It ended; Steedman, 1; Barnett, 2.

MEN'S RACE— (Handicnp) 150 yards; Grst prize, a 50ib bag of Flour; second, a Ohecso. Entrance, 2s. This was won by S. Fisher. WALKING- THE BOOM — Prize, Half a Sheep.

This caused great amusement. Three boys—John Quadri, Samuel Quadri and Sydney Wilson were entered, and their falls from the greasy boom over tho pond caused great fuu. vVilson succeded in walking tho furthest, and was declared the winner. MEN'S RACE, 13 stone and over—l6o yards ; Prize, £1 Is flat. Entrance, 2s Gd. Williams, S. and A. Fisher, aud Isaac entered, the race being won by Isaac, though Williams protested on the ground that he was under weight. SACK RACE—lst prize, a Watch; 2nd, 2lbs tobneco. This raco was run round tho pond, four being entered for it. One of them fell and tripped another, and in their frantic struggle to get up both rolled into the pond, to the great amusement of the onlookers. It -was won by Glascotv, Sutcliflc being a good second. Just then it commenced to rain, and a general stampede to the booths commenced, and gradually the pleasure seekers returned home, many of them wet, but all voted that tho affair was a success. Neither of the Jadies' races eventuated for want of entries; nor the catching of the greasy tailed pig, for j the very good reason that the porker had escaped from the gentleman who had tho pleasant task of carrying him to the Gardens. Mr Bennett was indefatigable in his exertions to provide amusement for the numerous visitors to his beautiful gardens, and he is certainly deserting of the pecuniary success with which the sports must have been attended.