ANNUAL RACES.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 908, 2 January 1872, Page 2

ANNUAL RACES.

Yesterday was the opening of the Westport Summer Meeting. There ivas an excellent attendance, and the •acing was better than experienced at my previous meeting. The only Irawback, and it \vas,a very serious me, laid with the weather, and in that 'espect the meeting was singularly unfortunate. For the twenty-four hours previous, the atmosphere had been threatening, but as noon passed withiut rain, all the pleasure seeker', trusted that the first day's programme xt least would be got through without a drenching. But it p.c.ved otherwise, rain setting m about 1.30 p.m., and continuing without intermission the whole afternoon. Notwithstanding the depressing effect of the weather, a really enjoyable afternoon was spent, the grand stand accommodation was ample, the various events were generally well contested, and eve.wbodyseemed determined to derive the largest possible amount of pleasure from the holiday. Money was freely spent, and we think that the booth holders have hitherto no cause for complaint. The chief feature of the meeting was the decidedly easy victory by XXX over Why Not in the Buller Handicap, distaino two and a half miles, the gelding carrying lOst 4/b, and the mare 9st Sib. The running is somewhat unaccountable when it ia remembered that Why Not's chief quality is staying power over a distance, while the mare, if she had any chance at all, was supposed to be able to win at a mile. In Charleston Why Not gave her something like 101b in a race of mile heats, and won easily, so that judges concluded that she could have no chance whatever on the same terms over a distance of two and a half miles. All calculations were, however upset, and we can only conclude that, on a less trying course than the ligftt sand met with at Charleston, Why Not and XXX at even weights would produce a very even and exciting contest. We append the result of the various events:

Maiden Plats of 10 sovs. for all horses that have never won an advertised ra e. One mile and a distance. Weight for En try £l, Mr M'Kee's Kettledrum (Simpson) 1 Mr M'Ginley's Kate, (Dougherty) 2

For this race there were four entries, Kate, Ivo, Kettledrum, and Polly. Polly pulled up after going once round the course, and Ivo, when running well, went inside the post, and was put out of the race. The contest then lay between Kate and Kettledrum, the latter winning easily hy several lengths. The Buller Handicap of 25 sovs. Two and a half miles. Entry 3 sovs. Mr Hughes XXX (Stevenson) 1 Mr M'Kee's Task (Simpson) 2 Mr Maloney's Why Not (Hider) 3 For this race there were four entries, Why Not, XXX. Task and Tommy. A start was easily effected, Tommy getting away with the lead followed by XXX, Task, and AVhy Not. This order was maintained throughout until passing the grand stand the third time when Tommv pulled up having run 'off the course. During the last round Simpson on Task made a tremendous effort to overhaul XXX , and at this point the race laid virtually between them. XXX won by a length, two lengths between the second and third. The Inangahtja Handicap of 15 sovs., for all horses regularly employed in packing or regularly worked on the Nelson South-West Goldfields for three months previous to the races. Heats about a mile. Entry £2. FIRST HEOT.

Mr Maloney's Why Not (Stt Vinson) 1 Mr M'Kenna's Spuds (Simpson) 2 Mr Dubson's Ivo (Butler) 3

SECOND HEAT Mr Maloney's Why Not Mr Dobson's Ivo

Mr Green's Maori (Campbell) 3 For the first heat five only started, Mr Stitt's Polly and Mr K'Kee's Major being scratched. The race was closely contested by Spuds. In the second heat Why Not won easily. A protest was entered against Why Not on the ground of his being a trained horse, and consequently disqualified to start.

Handicap Hurdle Race of 15 sovs. Two miles, over flights of hurdles. Entry 2 sovs. Mr M'Kee's Sailor (Simpson) ... 1 Mr Stitt's Polly 2

Both horses took the hurdles well, but the race was won easily by Sailor. Mr Seaton's Peter Simple was entered, but did not start.