Thames Annual Races.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3077, 27 December 1878, Page 2

Thames Annual Races.

First Day.

The first day's races of the Thame^ annual meeting eventuated at Tararu toF * day, and notwithstanding the rather uninviting aspect of the weather/from an early hour this morning, 'busses crowded with pleasure seekers were tunning back and forward. The Grahamstown and Tararu Tramway Company utilised tbeir carriages, and must have netted'a hand* some sum from the' numbers they con. ▼eyed to the race course, = By most assiduous exertions the. stewards had raised the sum of £160, and so judiciously divided it that two very respectable daya' sport was provided for. The foUowinggentiemen deserve credit for the excellent manner tbey performed the onerous duties of Stewards:—Messrs A. Butler. P. Well*, J. C. Williams, G. Wilkinson, 8. Stephen son, J. Wilson, H. Graham (junr.), M. Vauijhan, and M. Casey. „.Mr 8. Young, to whom the sporting- portion of this community are grealty indebted, acted' in the double capacity of handi< capper and starter,, while Mr Frederick Wells, in orthodox costume, efficiently kept the course. clear. Mr Young's ! handicapping especially gave great satis* faction. The publicans' and other bootht. did good business throughout the day.. The appearance of the course betwtefk eleven and twelve o'clock was anunaled^ a good number of people ha*ifcg- assembled, which was being addtd» to>e*eryminute by crowds of peopW ajwiving by. train and by cab, and bjrUor*e, the nnou' ber of equestrians being oousiderable* The Mayor, Mr MoCullough, had beeo^ .

announced to act as judge,: but the Stewards received a note this morning stating; that he bad been unexpectedly called away, and rpgretted he could not attend. In this difficulty the stewards appointed Mr R J. Wardeil to act, and it ie needless to say that he fulfilled the duty to the satisfaction of all parties. ' FIRST RACE. FLYING STAKES (weight lor age) 10 soys,—Distance |-mile ; entrance, 30«. .. Mr Leonard's Venus, 4 yra, Bst 91b ... 1 Mr de Thierry's Maewa, 5 yrs, 9st 21b ... 2 Messrs McGuire and MoWilliams Te Kewiri, aged, 9st 2lbs ... ... 3 Mr C. Mills' Hurricane, aged, 9it 21bs ... 0 All the horses came to'the scratch but Hurricane, and after one false start they were got well away at the second attempt by Mr S. Young. Maewa carried 30lbs over weight, in consequence of not being able to get a more suitable jockey. The horse kept pretty well together for a dis : tance, Venus being the first to lead, closely followed by Maewa, and a. good race was finished in this order, Te Kewiri being not far behind. SECOND RACE. , BOROUGH PLATE (Handicap), 25sovs.— , Distance, two miles; entrance, 3sovs. Maewa, Syrs, 7«fc ... ... ... ... 1 Skylark, aged, Bst lOlbs 0 Venus, 4yrs, Bafc ... ... ... ... 0 V This race was started about half-past one o'clock, the distance (two miles) necessitating a start halfway round from •the Judge's box, and requiring the horse to pass the stand three times. A good stiart was negotiated, Skylark getting a slight lead, Maewa second. This position was kept up for some time distance, and Skylark led the first time round the stand Venus and Maewa together. In the heavy sand near the starting point Maewa took the lead, Venus not altering her position of third, and Maewa kept the lead past the grand stand the second time round. Coming to the heavy ground again Skylark's saddle shifted and the jockey was ttrown, but the horse kept her pace and actually raced round, Venus being out of the race, Maewa winning the race easily. The next race was the— MAORI HORSE RACE, 5 soys.—Distance, two miles; post entry, 10s. The following entries,were made ;— Takerei's Christina, list ...... ... 0 Hori Tareranui's Quarry, Bst 0 Merriman'f Titokowaru, Bst 121bs ... 0 Hunia's Cannibal, Bst ... ... ... 0 It was about to be run as our reporter left the course. ("For remainder 'of News tee Ist # 4dh Pages.)