THE WAIKATO RACES.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 725, 8 February 1877, Page 2

THE WAIKATO RACES.

FIKST DAY. The weather, which up to a late hour yesterday mo tiling, threatened a .continuance of the sq'ialla of preceding days, cleared off towards 11 o'clock and continued tine throughout the day. A large number of visitorsfrotn Auckland were present, and from all parts of Waikato the settlers and their families poured m on horseback and m traps and vehicles of all descriptions, from the plain farm cart to the more pretentious buggy and pair. Bat what the course was- most noticeable for was the large proportion of horsemen and horsewomen. But few spectators were on foot, nor was this Burprising as the lacecourse was fully six miles from a township. We need scarcely say I hat with a concourse thus composed, there was the utmost possible good order and that not a single unpleasantness occurred to §mar the success of the occasion. The Stewards and officers of the coarse were attentive to their duties, the lesses of the booths had been diligent m preparing the necessary creature comforts for those who came unprovided, and the weather, as we have, said, was all that could have been desired. By many it was expected that the course would have been extremely heavy after the late rains, but such proved not to be the case. It was not a' fine springy turf by any means, but even after' the racing was over it could not be said to have betnmuch cut up. As we had expected, the delay at the crossing of the punt at Hamilton was cause of serious' inconvenience. The crush began as early as halfpast 9 o'clock on the East side and from then till fully half-past a ll o'clock there. were never less than three or four and sometimes a dozen vehicles and twice as many horsemen waiting their turn. One punt load, we noticed brought over 19 hoi semen and women. They must have been packed like sardines m a box, and hence perhaps' the less risk of danger as the horses had no room -to be iractious. Fortunately no accident occurred. Precisely: at 12.30 the Course Was cleared for the first race on the programme. . Handicap HuEDia Eaoe, of 30 sovs,about 2 miles, over 8 flights of hurdles, 3ft 6in high; 1 soy on nomination, and 2 eovs on acceptance. There were five entries. Mr Islesman .... ... 11 7 Mr Rutherford's Tommy Dodd ... 10 0 Mr R Kirkwood's Loafer ... 8 10 Mr It Peacock's Lottery S 7 Mr P Bond's Eclipse ... ... 9 7 Betting- : — Islesman, 6 to 4 • Loafer, 2 to 1 ; Tommy Dodd, 4 to 1 ; J .ottery and Eclipse were scratched. Tommy Dodd started off with the lead, followed by Lottery and Islesinaii, m the order named. Loafer soon after passed Tommy Dodd, Islesman dropping hopelessly astern, At the first hurdle, after passing the stand, Loafer struck the timber heavily, and despite the . efforts of his rider to keep him on his feet, came down on his side. Tommy, who all the while was jumping beautifully> seized the chance, and •although Loafer was quickly remounted, he was unable to catch the Te Awamutu horse, who repeated his victory of last year. T^mmy Dodd ... ...- ... ... 1 Loafer ... ... ... 2 Maiden Plate, of 25 sovb ; weight for age j 1£ miles ; for horses that have never won a stake exceeding 10 soys ; I entrance 2 soya. There were 7 entries. Maj >r Te Wheoro'a Kairuna ... 811 Mr R Peaoocke's Shauneen ... 9 3 Mr R Kirkwood's Midnight ... '8 11 MiKurukuru's The Master ... 9 5 Mr I 'Band's Prim* Donna ... 7 6 Mr Martyn's Memento 8 11 Mr R W Hammond's Dido ... 9 3 The horses started away, Prima Donna taking the lead, closely followed by Memento, Kirkwood's Midnight close on Memento's heels. This order was kept up during the first third of the race, and when passing the Judges box the first time, Prima Donna increased her distance, still followed by Memento. The rest of the field were nowhere; and it was certain that if Memento was put to her speed m time, that it would be a close race. At the last quarter-mile Memento's jockey put on a spurt, but not soon enough. The game little mare pulled rapidly on towards Prima Dorma v s flank,

bat the latter came m firsf by fully three lengths. Prima Donna ... ,»„ „„ ... 1 Memento ••• •••• ' 2 TuBF Club Handicap, of 100 sots ; 2 miles ; nomination 3 soys; acceptance 5 soys, to go to second horse. Five horses entered. • Mr Walter's Kingfisher 8 9 Mr Walter's lisa to Walton ... 8 7 Mr O CMc »ea'B May Moon ..8 4 Mr J AlwiU's Clipper ... ... 7 2 Mr J E Koohe'B ]\ell 610 For first half mile the houses kept well together, May Moon, leading, followed closely by Kingfisher and Isaac Walton. May Moon then forged quickly a-head putting herself and Kingfisher, about a dozen lengths apart; Isaac Walton andNellfollowingKingfisherababout; the same distance. May Moon kept the lead, Kingfisher decreasing it to about three lengths; at the winning post, Isaac Walton and Nell racing for a bad third, which the horse won easily, though scarcely by a length. i May Moon , ... ' 1 Kinga her ... ... .., 2 paac Walton «. $ tfONT Race, of 10 eovs j 1 mile; i'er. ponies 14 hands and under; 7lba allowed . for every inch under ; top weight 9 .t •7-bsj entrance 1 sty. Some coiifnsion m the minds of the spectators arose IJjJjeii this race came on. By/the^Hfaeasness, we suppose, of some ptfeawna -wneeted with the : race coin mittee, it had been omitted altogether from "the correct card of the racis." Four ponies ran, and, the race was closely contested between a- Maori pony and Frona, ridden by Mr E. Pilling, the former winning by only : a half-length. ' [ Maori Horse .., J. ... I Erona ... „.. .1 ... . 2 Waikato Stake?, of .30 soys; 1£ miles ; entrance 3 aovs ; welter weight for age ; 5 soys out of stakes to go to second horse. Horses tojje the bona ■. -fide property of Waik..t YBetilers one month previous to date of meeting. Seven horses wer« entered;' The Master .... ...... 12 1, Mr Alwill's Clipper 12 1 Mr Kirkwood'a Tui ... ... 11 5 Mr Hamin ncl's Dido ... ; .... 11 6" Mr Martyn's Memento ... .-' ... .10 11 Mr Bond's Prima Djnna ■•'. ... 813 MrKirkwood's Midnight ... 10 11 Prima Donna started dfl again with the lead, and. kept it to the last, winning easily. She was followed by -Tui at the start. Memento, however, showed Tui her heels, and gained gradually on , Prima 'Donna till, at the winning post, there was only a length between them, the crowd cheering her jockey to give plenty of whjp^ which lie; did, and brought himself up a capital second. I , . .. . Prima Donna, by Derby, dam. Pandora 1 Memento ... ... j: ... ... 2 The last race of th.o day was l '■ ■ ■ Maobi Race, of § soys; I mile heats; horses to be owned and ridden by Maoris. Post entries; entrance 5s (not 5 soys, as appeared on the cards, and m accordance wi'hthe copy fur*' nished for printing tlflfcv}. j .-■'•• Seven horses rah ; Mr Kurukuru's The Master, however, had the race to himself, and won easily. 'Thus ends the 'first day. 'What the lesult'will be on the second, our readers will have an opportunity of seeing for themselves on the race course, and we trust with as general satisfaction as was experienced yesterday. Yesterday's sport was the best ever witnessed m the Waikato, and as a racing event, mdsfc important The manner In which May "Moon gave the go-by to the Aiackla nd | horses, Kingfisher and Isaac Walton, cannot fail to affect the betting and handicapping throughout the .Colony.