BOXING DAT RACES.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1137, 30 December 1873, Page 2

BOXING DAT RACES.

The races advertised to come off on Boxing Day, and the fine weather, attracted at the Orawaiti course a tolerably numerous gathering. About 2.30 the first event was pulled off. In this, as in other matters, during the day the Stewards, or Committee, considered it expedient to diverge from the published programme, and thus made the first race the Towu Plate of 30 sovs. For this there were four entries, and the raco was won easily by J. Simpson's Kettle Drum, rode by 11. Patten. The chief incident of the race was the bolting off the course by M'Ketterick's Connaught Ranger. The rider, Ferris getting

a heavy hurl and dislocating his arm. After considerable delay another event was gut off. The Butchers' Puusk of 15 sovs. Catch weights; distance, 2 miles. This brought four nags to the scratch, Gotha-d's Koryomore, M'Kenna's Spuds, and M'Ketterick's VVhynot. This was the queer race of the day. Whynot ran off the course at the second round cannoned against a miner "named W. J. Wade, better known as King Billy, and knocked his majesty senseless. Spuds pulled up, for some reason not clearly understood, and the race was given to Eoryomore, ridden by T. Ward rope. The third and last event of the day was a

Hack Race of 10 sovs. Distance, I mile, heats. The entries were: Herren's Pol ly, M'Kenna's You'll'. o, M'Ketterick's Hanger, Gothard's Roryomore, and Patten's Tommy. In this race the Connaught Hanger again bolted off the course, and backed gracefully into a refreshment booth, the little mare, Polly, came in first, but a protest was entered against her for running on the wrong side of a post, and the stewards decided against her. The prize thus went to You'll do, ridden by his owner, P. J. M'Kenna.

Thus ended the first days sports. On Saturday better things were promised, but wind and weather prevailed and proceedings were postponed until Monday. The arrangements for the convenience of the public were good. The Grand Stand gave comfortable accommodation for all visitors who chose the higher point of 'vantage, and the refreshment department under Mr D. Emannuel's catering was well supplied and well tended. Messrs Peters and Maguire ministered to thirsty souls at t.vo other booths, and custom seemed equally divided between their bars and the Grandstand. The usual fun of the course was in full swing, Aunt Sally, represented by the figurehead of some defunct craft, got considerably knocked about, the rifle-gallery attracted amateur shootists, two enterprising " under and over" gents beguiled the time between the races, and there was a Co' present who had another and a novel speculative trap to catch stray shillings. It was an hybrid affair something between a washstand and a magnified mouse trap. ' The public paid shillings and threw leaden dumps, which sometimes dropped into holes at the top and rattled down to holes in the bottom, and one of the firm figured frantically on a slate, and somebody sometimes won, but who got the money, or who made the rules of the game were mysteries. The two other institutions of the field were the Count de Luna's fruit-stall, and the tin pails of a dealer in fresh milk, who was most anxious in his enquiries for anyone who wanted to get fat. SECOND DAYS RACIXG. Ladies' Purse of 15 sovs. mile. Gentlemen riders. Weight for age. Entry, 2 sovs. Qualification —one hurdle jump in front of grand stand. M'Kenna's Spuds—owner 1 Dolly Varden—Ward rope 2 Lamplough's Raaney—Morris 3 The qualification jump over a hurdle facing the grand stand was a fai u - e. After several horrible attempts ih'o judge mercifully '• passed" the lot. The race was won by about a couple of lengths. Pace throughout was moderate.

Buller Handicap of 40 sovs. Open to all horses. 2-|- miles. Entry, 3

sovs. Simpson's Kettledrum —Patten 1 M'Ketterick'sWhy Not—Campbell 2 Tizird's Corsair—M'Kenna 3

Why Not led past grand stand in every round up to the fourth, and was then headed by Corsair. On the fifth time round Why Not bolted off the course, and Kettledrum, who had run a waiting race, c.tme to the fore with a rush and won by several lengths. Why Not meantime had got back to che running and again passed Corsair, coming in second. It is stated that a protest was entered against Kettledrum. Open Handicap of 10 sovs.

Herren's Polly—Owner, 7st. 1 ll'Ketterick's Why Not—Camp-

bell—lo stone M'Ketterick's Connaughtßanger—■

Morris—9 stone

The Ranger repeated his Friday's performance by bolting off the course, and Why Not followed suit, but why or wherefore was not particularly clear. The prize was thus virtually a gift to Polly's owner.

Railway Stakes of 20 sovs. Handi-

cap, I! miles. Open to district horses only. Entry, 2 sovs. Simpson's Kettledrum—Patten, 10

stone ... ... 1 K'Kenna's Spuds—Sykes, Ost 41bs 2 M'Ketterick's Connaught Ranger— Morris, Ost 41bs 0 Mr Lang's Stranger was also entered, but the horse is said to have died in the morning, owing to some mishap in the stable. In this race the Ranger led well the first time round, but again bolted just after passing the Grand Stand. The running was then taken up by Kettledrum, who won as he liked. Spuds, as usual, coming in at full stretch a few lengths in the rear. Consolation Handicap of 10 sovs, second horse to save his stakes.

Por all horses beaten at the meeting. H miles. Post entry of 1 sov. M'Kifterick's Why Not, Campbell, 10 stone ... ... ... 1 Tlzard's Corsair, Sykes, Bst 41b ... 2 Peabody's Dolly Vardon, Walker, Bst4lbs 3 Patten's Tommy, Owner, 6 ttone ... 4

A good start was made, and by many the race was considered the best of the day. Tommy led off gamely, but at the third round was evidently pumped. Why Not and Corsair ran pretty evenlv, Corsair's jockey handling his nag well, but Why Not on the last round forged steadily ahead, and came in a winner by a couple of lengths. Dolly Varden inaMri no show in the ruuuing and came in a bad third.

The attendance was good, the grand stand being fairly patronised, and happily no accident occurred.

To-day the athletic sports will commence at 12 o'clock precisely.