TAPANUI RACES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 431, 3 February 1875, Page 2

TAPANUI RACES.

{By our Special Reporter.)

This annual meeting commenced on Thursday last. The weather for some days previous had been showery and threatening which no doubt had the effect of deterring people from a distance from putting in an appearance. The night before the race 3 the picturesque township ' on the border of the bosh yrove quite a holiday aspect. The cricket match, followed by a dinner and ball in the evening, drew together a goodly number of people,. There was no speculation- on the racing on Wednesday night worth mentioning, and great disappointment was expressed when the acceptances for the Tapanui Handicap came out, and furfcHer on. the entries for the different events proved paltry in the extreme, only two nominations having been lodged for the .Maiden Plate, and District Handicap respectively. The paucity of acceptances paralysed speculation altogether, and from even money to two to one was the longest odds offered by the bookmakers, who were present in large numbers, having no doubt been attracted by the prospect of large fields, which, had it not been for the indifferent performances of several of the horses engaged at the Tuapeka meeting,- would have been equal to the expectations of the members of the Club. The Grand Stand was moderately well filled on the first day, considering the number of people present; the second day, however, the number that payed for admission was far larger, and when filled the new Stand- had a very pretty appearance, the bright dresses of the ladies contrasting favorably with the more gombre attire of their male frienda. The refreshment stands were well patronised, and deservedly so, as everything provided 'w,as of the best quality-.. Mr. Simson deserves special praise for the excellent lunch provided on the coarse, the cuisine being such as would have sat-^ is Bed the most exacting Epicure ; the tables were decorated with flowers, and everything that could be done for the comfort of his patrons was accomplished by that gentleman and his' assistants, The Good Templars also had -a refreshment stand on the course, and did, %

"~ TairTfmouht of business. They made no • ' charge, but any one could contribute towards defraying the cost of the refreshments that desired to do so. The Jockey .Cfliib itrongly objected to the stand being ■ Vrected, owing to the promoters not paying for a stand. The Good Templars, whether right or wrong, erected the stand in opposition to the licensed booths. The racing on the first day was of a very poor description ; the walk over fqr the Maiden Plate throwing a damper on the racing at the first onset. • The next race was the Tapanui Handicap, which was an easy victory for Right Bower. For the District Handicap only two horses competed, both the property of one owner, and the race was merely a farce, though the riders made some show of racing towards the finish.^ The Bullock-drivers and Hack races require no comment, but a Hurry Scurry that followed caused some surprise, as an untried mare, the property of a sporting youth in Tapanui, beatßurgundy and Starof the South easily. Ghis event closed the programme for the first day, and a general move was made for town. As soon as the acceptances came out for the Jockay Club and Flying Handicaps, great disappointment was evinced at the few horses that had payed up, and the attempt to speculate on the handicaps was abortive, though a few small Calcutta sweeps were got up later on. Mr. St. Vincent's entertainment in the Town Hall was the principal place of resort, and from the time the concert commenced till its conclusion the hall was crammed with people. The entertainment was followed by a dance, which was kept up until daylight. Friday morning broke fine and clear, and an early move •was made for the course. The Hurdle Race was the first event on the card Unknown being the favourite. He, however, fell at the fourth jump, as also did Bismarck at the first, both riders being severly shaken, M'Kay especially, Kildare then won easy with Dido second. The Jockey Club Handicap was a gift to Mr. Coorobe, as Traitor was scratched in the morning. The Flying Handicap was a good race for three quarters of a mile, when Flying Dutchman came through the field and won as he liked. The Hack Selling Race brought out a field of three, Color Sergeant being looked upon as certain to win, and after his winning the first heat in a canter, long odds were laid on his spinning. He, however, ran off the course after going half-a-mile, and so much like the "Mabel--' Waltz was the circumstance that the horse was disqualified from ever running, and the rider from ever riding on the Tapanui race course again. It afterwards came to the knowledge of the. Stewards that the horse changed owners after the first heat had been run. The Consolation Stakes was the next event and it . resulted in a good race, Stackpole winning, with Envy second, and Traitor third. This was the only race in the meeting where any complaints were made of the handicapping, Traitor's 9st 4lb being considered too ■ much for him to carry. He, however, came very close at the finish, and had it not been for the bad start he made the race would have been much closer. Mr. Smith's handicapping was very successful throughout the meeting, and the small fields did not. arise from any fault in it. Several horses engaged including Tripolis, Medicus, Atlas, Sir Tatton, and others were not fit, whilst the running at Tuapeka was a sufficient line to the owners of several horses that they would have no chance at Tapanui, a chain of unfortui ate circumstances that spoilt the racing to a considerable extent." On Friday night the Stewards made known that , several ' good prizes would he offered for a third day's racing, but many of the .visitors, left for home ; most of those who remained again patronised Mr. -£t. Vincent' 3 - entertainment, which was followed by a dance. The Tesult of Saturday's racing is appended below. The Hurdle' Race was confined to the District Handicap horses, who raced together at a hot pace up to the fourth hurdle, when Bismarck bolted off the course', leaving Dido to canter in. The Steward's Handicap was a good race, as for a mile of the distance four of the horses were racing in a line ; Unknown then came 1 away and won a good race, Fenian beating Sonnambula at the post for second place. The Ladies' Purse was also a victory for Unknown. A Hurry Scurry Hack Race, -__®>n..by_ Sultan, finished the Tapanni races of 1875. The Stewards' arrangements throughout were excellent, and the different officers acquitted themselves to -the satisfaction of all concerned. Appended is the result of the racing : — Maidejs Plate, of 40 soys. One mile and a half. * - Nosworthy's eh m Sonnambula, 3 yrs"., 7st 31b, (carried 41b over) (R. Richards) 1 A M'Kay's eh m Sultana, 5 yrs., 9st 41b, (carried 81bs over) - - (R. Reay) 0 Sultana only went to the post to secure the full amount of the stake, and Sonnambula cantered round alone. Tapanui Handicap, of .60 soys., with a sweep of 3 sots.; second horse to receive 15 soys. from stakes. One mile and a half. G. Coombe's br h Right Bower, 5 yrs. 7stlOlb - - - (Brensell) 1 Nosworthy's b h Traitor, 4 jrs., Bst 101 b (R. Richards) 2 J. Morrison's eh g Stackpole, aged, Bst2lb - - (H. Richards) 0 Stackpole went away with the lead, at rthe half mile post he gave way to Traitor, "who then took up the running, ' closely followe,d by the Bower and Stackpole; this order was maintained for a mile, when Right Bower went to the front and won pulling double by three lengths, the same distance separating Becond and BuXiEPOX-Driveb's RACEof 15 soys. Mile heats ; no weight under 9st. For horses thebona fide property of bullock-drivers for three months previous to races, and used by them for their occupation. J. Perry's Sultan, (James MaloDe) 211 R. Matthew's Jack, (A. M'Kay) 12 2 J. Boyd'a Atlanta, 3 0 0 ' Jack won the first heat easily. For the : second heat Atlanta was withdrawn, and James Malone mounted Sultan, and after a good contest, won by four lengths from Jack. The thir^was an easy victory for. Sultan, who passed the Judge's box ten lengths in advance of Jack. A protest was entered by the .owner of .Jack against Sultan getting the stake 3, as he was not a properly qualified bullock-driver's horse. The protest was not sustained. Jsjstoict Handicap, of 25 soys. One mile »nd a quarter. For horses the bona fide property of persons residing within a - - radius of 15 miles of Tapanui, and owned by them for three months prior to races. nJ.Monaghan'sßismarck,Bsfc,n J.Monaghan'sßismarck,Bsfc, (Jas. Malone) 1 J-Monagliftn'sDido,7it4lb (John Malone) 2 .Vlfr. Monaghan declared to win with Bismarck.

Hack Race, of £10 soys. Mile "heats"; no ■weight under 9st. Winner to be Bold for £15, surplus (if any) to go to the race fund. W. Logan's JennyLind, (James Malone) '1 1 Gaven's Cannie Willie, (T. Cotton) 2 2 A M'Coll's Clutha Maid, (A. M'Kay 3 3 Eskdale's Neil, - (T. Monaghan) 0 0 Jennie Lind won easily, Canftie Willie second, and Clutha Maid third. The same order was maintained in the second heat, and Jenny Lind was declared the winner. The winner was sold to the owner for £25 10s. A Hurry Scurry of £7 10s was won by Mr. Logan's Jenny Lind, beating Star of the South, Burgundy, and several others. The mare had the best of the weights, as she carried about two stone less than anything else in the race. Second Day. Handicap Hubdle Eace, of 40 sots. One mile and a half ; over six flights of hurdles 3ft. 6in. high. Mr. J. Cotton's Kildare, 9sfc (Owner) 1 Mr. J. Monaghan's Dido, 9st (T. Monaghan) 2 Mr. A. M'Kay's Unknown, lOst (Owner) 0 Mr. J. Monaghan's Bismarck, 9at 121 b (J.

Malone) 0 Bismarck was first away at the fall of the flag, but fell heavily at the first jump, his rider, Malone, being stunned. Kildare then took up the running, closely followed by Unknown and Dido. The second hurdle was jumped in good style, by all three, as was also the third. At the fourth jump Unkown fell, severely hurting his rider. Kildare took the fifth and last jumps in good style, and won by three lengths from Dido. Unknown was caught and ridden home by Mr. Thomas Hewitt for third place. Bismarck was not ridden out. Tapanui Jocket Cxttb Handicap, of 100 , soys., with a sweepstake of 4 soys j Becond horse to receive £20 from stakes. Two miles ; 13 subs. Mr. G. Coombe's Flying Dutchman, Bst 71b (T. Cotton) 1 Mr. G. Coombe's Right Bower, Bst (W. Harrison) 2 Traitor was scratched for this event. The two left in the race cantered and walked round, passing the post asabove. The following were the weights for the non-starters : — Stackpole, 7st 81b ; Envy, 6st 91b ; Unknown, 7st 21b : Traitor, Bst 61b ; Sonnambula, 7st ; Tripolis, 7st 71b ; Bothwell, 6st 51b ; Kathleen, 6st 71b ; King Phillip, 7st 61b ; Spritsail, Bst 31b : Atlas, Bst 71b. Flying Hastdicap, of 30 sots., with a sweep of 1 soy. 1 mile. Mr. G. Coombe'a Flying Dutchman, Bst 101 b (R. Richards) 1 Mr. J. Cotton's Envy, 6st 121 b (Brensell) 2 Mr. R. Reay's Sonnambula, 7st 4lb (Roland) 3 Mr. J. Monaghan's Bismarck 6st (John Malone) 0 This was a splendid race throughoutgpall going away to an excellent start. Envy soon showed to the front, and kept the lead for three-quarters of a mile, when Flying Dutchman drew away from his horses, passed Envy, and won by two ! leni^ths. Unknown, 7st 41b ; Kathleen, 6stlolb ; Sonnambula, 7st 41b ; and Right Bower. Bst 41b, did not accept. Hack Race, of 15 soys- Winner to be sold for £20. Mile heats ; 9st. Mr. Curry's Greased Lightning (Jas. Malone) 2 11 Mr. M'Duff's Cleavev (Brosnan) 3 2 2 Mr. N. Colqhoun's Color Sergeant (T. Monaghan) 10 0 Color Sergeant won the first heat easily, but was distanced in the second, owing to his running off the course. Greased Lightning won the other two heats with ease. The winner was sold to Mr. Campbell for the sum of £21. * Consolation Stakes, of 20 soys; for all beaten horses. Distance, one mile. Mr. Morrison's^ Stackpole, Bsfc 2lb (James Malone) 1 Mr. Cotton's Envy (Brenaell) 2 Mr Nosworthy's Traitor, 9st 41b (Reay) 3 Mr. M'Kay's Unknown, 7st 21b (Roland) 0 Stackpole went away with the lead, closely followed by Envy and Unknown, with Traitor several lengths in the rear. This order was maintained for three-quarters of a mile, when Traitor made his efforts, but he could not get up.' Envy finished a good second. Third Day. Handicap Hubdlb Race, of 15 soys. li mile ; over six flights of hurdles, Mr. J. Monaghan's Dido, 9st (Malone) 1 Mr. J. Monaghan's Bismarck, lOst (J. M'Coll) 2 Mr. A. M'Kay's Unknown, 3Ost7lb (scratched) Bismarck jumped the first three hurdles in good style, closely followed by Dido. Bismarck baulked at the fourth hurdle, and Dido won as he liked. Steward's Handicap, of 20 soys. Distance, li mile. Mr. A. M'Kay's Unknown, Bst 7lb (H. (Richards) 1 Mr. W. Quin's Fenian, Bst 61b (James Malone) 2 Mr. R. Reay's Sonnambula, 7st 41b (Roland) 3 Mr. Logan's Jenny Lind, 6st 71b (M'Kenzie) 0 Mr. H. Goodman's Kathleen, 7st 121 b (Brensell) 0 Sonnambula jumped away with the lead, closely followed by the others. At the mile post, all the horses could be covered with a sheet, Unknown having slightly the best of it. He gradually improved his position, and won by a length, Fenian beating Sonnambula by a neck for second place ; Kathleen last. | Ladies' Pubsb, of 15 soys ; li miles. Welter weights ; gentlemen riders. Mr. A. M'Kay's Unknown, 12st lib (Mr. P. Benn) 1 Mr. J. Morrison's Sfcackpole, 12st lib (carried 31b over) (Mr. A. Smith) 2 Mr. J. Monaghan's Bismarck, 12st lib * . (Owner) 3 - Bismarck cut out the running, and main;suned the lead for a mile, when Unknown went to the front and, despite the efforts of Stackpole, won easily.