A Tip on the coming Races.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3434, 24 December 1879, Page 3

A Tip on the coming Races.

By Old Bibd.

You reminded me yesterday of a promise I made you some time ago, which I endeavoured to fulh'l by Retting up 3 hours before my usual time and walking 3 miles so as to enable me to have a peep at tho nags as they went around the arena, more especially the new comers. The morning looked gloomy ant! milieu, the roads wet and nmty, as I went to Parawai to see if I could ■pot the winners of the coming ev cuts aud to enable me to give to tho gentle public the correct tip. When looking across the gardens I spied my old friend Dufty milking bis brindle cow ; of course he was surprised to see me out that timo in the morning. However, after the first surprise was over, he said to me, iv his usual good-natured way, "Look here old bird I am glad to see you out our way, and if you wait until I milk thia here brindle cow, I will shout; for you." I said "AH rigbt nil fellow, pull away ; I'm your Moses." Whilst waiting lor my friend to finish his morning's work I was thinking of the past bygone days when I went out; with Mr J. Mackay to negotiate for tbe race-courso, now known as Spencer's gardens. I remember on that occasion Mr Mackay and your humble servant, together with several native owners of the soil went up on the side of the hill to have a korero. We bad some hours' tall talking both on the parfc of the ♦ Maoris aud.Mr Mackay, and some very high talk too, when one of my dusky friends got more turbulent than the rest, and said something which my friend Mackay did not like. The next moment, to my great astonishment, that man was on his back with the most prominent part of his dusky face in his fist. That hit on his proboscis settled the business. We got the use of the course for the second races held on tbe Thames Goldfield, for which we had to pay £60 for clearing n little titree off, and £10 to the owners for two days' sports. At the lame time, Mr Editor, I could not help thinking of the old friends who took part in that jolly meet, who are now gone from amongst us, some to that home where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest, and some to better their position by seeking out fresh fields and pastures new. I was thinking of those happy days, when suddenly my friend of the milking pail asked me what was the matter? Oh, nothing, I said. I was only thinking how civil my banker used to be to me a few years ago, and now be don't know me; but no matter, as the man says in the play, " My turn next," who can tell ? Echo says who. All this time we were walking down to the hotel to hare some rum and milk from the brindle cow. Just as we got half way through with our refreshment the landlord dropped in, and our conversation soon turned upon a free discussion of the merits of the different horses who have accepted for the Thames Plate, Publican's Purse and Hurdle Races. Seeing that the landlord knew something of horseflesh I thought I would ask him if he would give me some information about the nags, when he gave me the following tip. "In the first place, he said, "I am glad to see that the general entries and acceptances received by the Stewards are far more numerous than usual, which certainly augurs well for the success of the coming meeting. I understand that" we will have several visitors from Auckland and other parts, so we may look forward to an unusually large attendance. Tbe proprietor of the course, with the assistance of the Committee, has erected in a very substantial manner & grand stand capable of seating 300 . people. This will enable those who will take advantage of it to see the nags from the start to the finish, the stewards very wisely making the charge to the stand as moderate as possible, so as to give Mother Thames and her family an opportunity of feeing all the sports. I can also assure the ladies that they need not be afraid of getting their complexion, spoiled, as there li any amount of shade this year in the gardens, in fact the place has never been in better order for racing. The view will be much improved, Mr Spencer having cut down several of the trees that stood in the way of people seeing all round the course. I see by this morning's paper that nine out of ten horses horses nominated for the Thames Plate have paid up. Of these, Magician, Bundarra, and Sunbeam represent Auckland, Little Dick, Ohinemuri, and all the rest belong to the Thames. Of Magician's chance, I can say nothing from the fact that he has done all his work at Mr Thorpe's training ground outside of Auckland, and has not yet put in an appearance here. Sunbeam does not seem to me as fit is her stable companion "Venus," but at the same time she is well in and ought to make tbe pace hot for some of her more aged opponents. Skylark is as 'fit as a fiddle, and reflects great credit on Mr Cannon, who has had him in hand for some time back,, and my impression is that he won'fe be far away from the first horse at the finish for the Thames Plate. Snowstorm will do battle for Mr Hoskin. He is by Resolution, oufc of Waxworks, and was bred in Taranaki. I scarcely think I would go further for the winner, but I am afraid that he has gone back in his training, owing to a bruise he got in one of his feet a day or two ago. I hope and trust that Be will be all right by the 26th, for the sake of his plucky owner. TMflfnext on the list is Matlook, who r«slteelts"Mr Quinlivan's stables. He is from I'the Waikato, and was bred by Mr Buckland oufc of a half-bred mare by Derby. He is in splendid condition considering the time he has been training, and does infinite credit to his trainer, and I have no doubt but that he will make Ms mark before the end of the meeting. Mr MeGee's stables are represented by Bundarra and Elsa; the latter is only entered for the hurdles, and it is hardly necessary for me to say that I won't look further for the winner if she is in the humour to jump. I think I shall prefer Bundarra for the Thames Plate, and Golden Crown for the Railway Stakes." By this timo I Began to feel hungry, so I bid my companions good-bye, at the same time telling the landlord that I did not believe in his tip. And now, Mr Editor, lam done, wishing you and your readers a f Merry Christmas aud a happy New Tear." , Old Bibd.