Te Kotohitanga Maori Racing Club's Hack Meeting.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4724, 18 May 1894, Page 2

Te Kotohitanga Maori Racing Club's Hack Meeting.

0FFICEB8; President, H. T. Mahupuku, Yico-pre- : sident, M. K. Haaka," Stowards, H. P. Tiuiiuorangi, B. A, Tuhokairaiigi, """" M. A, Tuhokairangi, W. E, Kingi, JK, Korou, Maniera Ngatuera, H, Kamitiana, Koliea Tahana, ToiNatanahira, A. Mikacnt, Tc Honu, Kcreu Karaitiana, HanafctAcaißh, Wainohu H. H. Tehuki, Te 'Ao"A. Harawira, K. H. Maniliera, liatima Maaka, Hacata Hcnare, Walio Karaitiana, Puhara Te Tan, T, To Tau, Hapcta H. Wliakamaitu, Himui Potangaroa, Huilia Marnctac, KawanaKopilm, Hunift Honcliinu, Honoama Meilmua, Hokotoki Paoro. Judges, H. P. Tunuiorangi and B, H. Maniliera. Starters, M. A. Tuhokairangi and Hacata Hcnare. . Clerksof Scales,W. Karaitiana andG. Ellors. Clerk of Course, &' Karaitiana. Treasurers, WainohuH. H. Te Huki and A. M. To Honu. Handi- ®^ er i A. 11. McFarlaue. Secretary,

Formerly it has jieeiillio custom" for the Native residents in this district, who tako an interest in and support racing, to entrust the sole management of tlio Akura Meetings to Mr William junction witl^^jJKuropeana' who thorougjjpKullittftnd these matters, lias always earned them through with satisfaction to all concerned. On this occasion, however, our Native friends allowed their enthusiasm to run away with them and quite took matters'into their own hands. The result—as far as management is concerned—was not a success, and what with protests and other causes of delay it was found impossible to get through the programme, and owing to darkness coming on, the last'two events had to be postponed. Certainly the Kotahitanga Racing Club novel- had better acceptances or a larger attendance at any previous meeting, and that any hitch should have arisen is much to be regretted. From what we can gather each of the Maori sports running the meeting, thought his fellows had arranged everything and left nothing for him to ds, and the consequences was an undoubted muddle out of which Mr W.Sellav, by herculean efforts managedin some measure to extricate things, v A publican's bocjji, under tlio management of iot;D, Thompson was on the ground and appeared to ho doing well, but the luncheon booth was absent having been left to somebody who'forgot all about it, • With regard to the racing, it was on the whole good. Large fields faced the starter, and were cleverly despatched. although in one event some of the horses managed to get left at the post. Some excitingly close finishes resulted, and as tlio backing was pretty evenly distributed, Mr A. R. McFarlaiie's handicapping must ho declared a success, The Kotahitanga Club's Handicap attracted a field of fifteen, the only one of the acceptances scratched boingVoltaire, Big fields have their disadvantages as well as advantages, and one of them 011 this occasion was that the totalisator was too small for the field, Bangor and Vain Glory -being coupled and run as one horse to get over the difficulty This was somewhat mystifying ■to many, and from any point of view • hardly satisfactory to backers, who although they had two strings to their bows, had to take the chance oL a divided however, made ptflpio lender stilt more, when the' race resulted in a dead heat between Mako Mako and Vain Glory, and it was ,found that ' the backers of three horses in one race were all entitled to a share of the spoil. This was somewhat disappointing to the backers of the coupled horses, particularly whon they found that Mr Benton's game old Mako Mako was returning £l3 for ovory noto invested while t hey only recieved £2 18s for each ticket. Protests were the order ■of tlio day, no less than four being entered in five races. Altogether it was a nice lively little meeting, full of pleasant surprises and bristling with novelties to racing mid racecourses, People present could not help but enjoy many of the situations; they were so intensely humorous. For instance, when a little difficultyarose owing to two weighing machines coming to grief, the unique sight of a jockey suspended on a huge steelyards in mid-air—liko Mahomet's coffin—while the Clerk of Scales made frantic efforts to get within a few pounds of the weight of the suspended mass of struggling humanity, and racing furniture, was something to be ever remembtfed. But in spito of all this every good feeling prevailed; there was an absenco of drunkenness and rowdyism, and people made allowances for little irregularities with a good graco. The duties of starter were 011 the whole very ably performed by Mr Meta Tnkhokairangi. Messrs H. P, Timuioraiigi and 11H. Maniliera were impartial judges, while all the Committee did their best. A special word of praise is due toMrGeo.Ellors, who rendered valuable assistance, and carried out the onerous duties—under many difficulties—of Clerk of the Scales to perfection, Mr William loins, under adverse circumstances, did his utmost to carry the meeting through. Details of the remaining events aro as follows : Second Roxoakako Hurdles. 20 sovs; 1 mile. (23.) E. Nopera's Tricky Jack, 9st lOlbs ... (Cuneen) 1 I (21.) P, N. Takitaki's Konini,9st 41bs (Proctor) 2 (1.) Kero Karaitiana's Ttarua 9st 3Jbs (/pit) '3 At the conclusion of thidfeo protests wero entered ligainsHho first' and second horses, and the Stewards decision was reserved. No dividend was therefore paid oulfesterday. , Hixmmi'o Bkacklkt. Welter weight for age. 25 sovs, 1

mile. (95) J, Macara's Brookfiohl, aged (Matthews) 1 (87) T. Bonton, junr's., Mako Mako, aged (Seccombe) 2 (16) H. Hockley, junr's., Fresh Deal, syrs (Catt) 3 This event brought out a splendid field, and from a good start they got well away together. The favorite came home, the second favorite being a quarter of a length behind, and the" rest in straggling order. Time, lmin Slsec. Dividend, £2 17s. Total, 305. I Kotaiiitaxga Maori R.C. Handicap." 55 sovs. H miles. This event brought out a splendid field, including Mako Mako, Sst lOlbs; Oddfellow, Bst 71bs; Royal Tar, Bst 61bs ;• Springtime, 7st 131bs and 21 bs overweight uyilent Friend, 7stl2lbs; Gorso, 7^i2lbs; Delusion, 7st 7lbs; Menymau, 7sfc 21bs; Margrave, 6st 121bsMiss Massey, 6st lllbs . (Ist lib. overweight); Prince 6st lllbs j Bangor, 6st lllbs; Swordfish, 6st lllbs j Highland Maiy, 6st 81bs; and Vain' Gloiy, Gst 71bs. • Silent Friend 'got the half

TarAndVainGlory, Passingtlio stand nil wero together,tho paco being a hot one. At the baok of the coui'so Vain Glory had the load with MakoMako ooming strong all the time and Ropl Tar lying handy, 'fliis position was maintained until reaching the strait wlion Hako Mako, gamely respond- • ing, made ly great strugglo for first placo, the judges declaring it a dead heat, In this race Bangor was conpled "with Vain and dividends were paid out on the three, viz., Vain Glory and Bangor £2lßs, nnd Mako Mako £ls. Margrave ran off tho course. A protest was entered by the owner of Silent Friend, who alleged that his horse had been jostled, but after a somewhat prolonged enquiry, the Stewards dismissed tho protest. Time 2min 54jsecs. Total , Tho Huia Maiden Handicap was a gift to Ata Eangatahi's Rangitatau, who won with easo from start to finisLyUrotestwas entered against not upheld, and at this fctago it was decided to adjourn the races owing to darkness. Dividend £i 18s. '■■■ rf