WAIKATO RACES.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1036, 13 February 1879, Page 2

WAIKATO RACES.

Pirrt Day.

The small-amount of rain that baa falleu since the New Year, led many to expect that there would be a >yeek. But Waikato is particularly fortanatp in making satisfactory arrangemanki vyith the clerk of the fhe weather, and so, it proved on thia occasion. The sky was *:loudless, atid a light breeze tempered the heat of the sun. Several hour-' before the time for starting the first rape crwdsof people poured ttp">n the course from the roads converging froni aft iho Waikato every one of which ms so well represented that it would be itupos-1 sible to particularise. Tho new bridge just completed over the Narrows, afforded a much nearer route for most of the- east Waikato settlers, who availed themselves of it in great numbers. Miny, no no doubt, went this way, more from a desire to see and cross the bridge., than because it was nearer. The bridge, itself, appears a vory sub-

stautial structure, which reflects great credit on Mr Britton, the engineer and contractor.

The steamers also, brought largo numbers, and many came by vail. These latter wore complaining loudly of having to walk more than two miles to the cotuse, When they might have been put; down by tho train within half a mile of it However, a very largo number of people, some eight hundred, must, have been on tho ground daring tho day, and, no doubt, all thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Our dusky neighbours were also fairly represente.l, and seemed to appreciate their shire of the sport. The new Grand Stand, an imposing and substantial building, the completion of which was noticed soirte tima ago in our columns, afforded a pleasant view of the whole course, and was occupied by a large number cf ladies and a few gentlemen, the number of the latter of course increasing, while the races were being run, and diminishing as each event terminated. Betting, of course, was in full swing, aud much money must have chauged hands. The furore extended itself to tho fair hox, hats were constantly to be seen handed round, from which, first one lady aud then another drew out a small slip of paper on which each proudly looked to fiud written the t name of tho horse about to win the race.

The stewards and officers of the course were attentive to their duties, and the lesees of the booths had been diligent in preparing the necessities for appeasing the appetites of those who had come unprovided, and we must nob forget to remark the admirable arrangements which the publicans' booth under the grand' stand afforded. The utmost good order prevailed throughout th 9 day, and every one to have come to enjoy himself legitimately. A very slight incident occurred immediately after the first race, which might have proved serious. Some careless smoker on the stand, dropped a lighted match on the floor which fell between the boards and set them on fire. Some dozen or more in the publican's booth below saw it and shouted out fire I fire! till sumo one with more presence of- mind seized a jag of water and threw it. up, and put out the. flame. Another then scrambled up and put out the smouldering embers. r-: The Cambridge Band was in ittetdauce, and contributed to enliven die proceedings. Shortly before 1 o'clock, the horses were brought into the saddling paddock for 1 the first eveiit of the •lay. Harry Mount was much ad mired, and was the favorite. Loafcr also looked as ifhe would take a lot of beating, i At 1.15 the course having been cleared the first race on tha programme was bggun : Handicap Hurdle RiCB. of 40 sova• 2 miles, overjaigafrflights of hurdle ; 3£fc. 6ia. high. 3;s on nomination. 2Jaova on acceptance Five horses started. Whitefoot and Tregeagle 11. were scratched. The horses got away well together. The first hurdle was negociated in fine style by all but Robin Hood, falling, rolled over and injured his rider (Laing). The seoond hurdle was jumped by Loafer and Sportsman together, with Harry Mount a few lengths behind. Irish Immigrant baulked, and no efforts of his rider could got him over the second hurdle. The other hurdles were taken in the same order as the second, Loafer and Sportsman jumping splendidly and at the same instant till they oamo to the fifth, when Loafer jumped the wing of the hurdle, and bolted off the course. Sportsman then won by half a length—Harry Mount second. The race was run in -limn. SOsecs. Rutherford's ch g Sportsman, aged lOst 121bs ... ... ... i Caultou's b g Harry Mount, G years lOsUlbs ... ... ... 2 g-'rkwood'e ch g Loafer, 6 years, agod l'2st 21bs ... ... ... 3

Maiden Pl.vek, of 3<)*ovs; \\ miles j weight for aga. For horaoa that have never won a stake exceeding lOsovs. Entrance, 303 Eight houses ran. After one false start, tho horses got away fairly, and kept well together for the first half-mile, when Sultan aud the Yatterina Colt drew ahead, and the race lay between the two. It was soon soon, however, that Sultan was doing his best, and the colt was hard held. They ran neck and neck, till within a few lengths of the wiuniug post, when the boy let tho colt have" the rein, and he shot to the front, and won by a length. Time: 2min. 55secs. Walters' br e by Traducer, out of Yatterina, 2 years, ost 71bs ... 1 Hall's blk g Sultan, aged, Ost olbs ... 2 Kay's b g Orakau, 6 years, 9st -libs ... 3 A protest was entered against the colt, by Mr E. Hull, on tho ground that there was no weight for two-year-olds. This has not yet been decided upon by the Stewards. Tvav Cltib Handicap, of ] OOsova; 2 miles. Nomination, 2iovs ; acceptance, ssova Five started. Puugawerewore and Harry Mount were scratched, a good start was effected, and tho horses raced well together. On passing the Grand Siaud after the first round, Flirt and | Malvern were racing- tQgctter, followed by Yatapa, G-iliio Calluin, and Vl entente —each a few lengtns apart in the order named. For another half-mile, the samo order was kept, but Flirt then got the lead, and Gillie was responding to the whip as they came into the straight, passod' Malvern, and challenged Flirt. > The excitement was now intense, and cries of "Gillie" and "Flirt" were heard all over the course. Gillie Galium, however, came in a winner by half a length. Time: 3mm,. SBsoc. Caulton's b hj Gillie Galium, 6 years 7s lOlbs ... 1 Bond's b in Flirt, b years, 7st lllbs ... 2 Garland's bg Malvern, Q years, 7st2ibs ... ' ... '.;; 3 In this race, Malvern carried J Gibs over weight. V¥\*iK\T> Stakes, of 20»ov3; \\ miles ; welter weight for age ; 5 aovd out of Stakes to ao second horss. Horses to bp for one month previous to advertiseojeQt the bona file property of a Waikato resident. IB ltrauJvj, 2 sovs. All the lour horse 3 on the card ran, and w ot away together. Memento and .Rally

had tho load, aud the two favourites, Sultan aud Itobin Hood, were bohind. Sultan seemed kept back too much at first. Momento and Rally ran nook and neck the whole way. Rally won by half-a-nook. Time : 2miu. 20aeca.

Roche's oh m Rally, 6 years, list 61b3 1 Martyn's Momento, aged, I2st lib ... 2 Hall's Sultan, aged, 12st lib 3 Flying: Stakes, of 20jov ; £ mile; weigho for age. Ennrauce, 3Ja

Seven horses ran. Tho Yatterina Colt and Skylark were the only two who made a race of it, and the colt was hard held throughout. Orakau came in third. Time: lmin 2lsecs.

Walters' br o by Traducer, out of Yatterina, 2 years, 9et 2lbs ... 1 Garland's bg S ylar*, 9st 21bs ... 2 White's ch g Barney, aged, 9st 21b3 ... 3 MA.on R»CE, oflOi'Vs; 1 railo heats Hora6a co be own«d <*ul ridden hi Mioris. Po3t entry ; oatr-tneo, 10 The winaer of lirsb day's race will b' disqualified.

Six hursos ran, and after one f abe Btert got away, Lforotene's Clover, a big bay gelding, led all the way, and won the first heat; Tandem, second. The second hoat was run as the first, and therefore Clover took tho first money, and Tandem the second. This was the last race on the Srograramo, and the spectators imme. iately began to disperse.

The members of tho Cambridge Band, whose services tre engaged for to-dayj encamped on the ground for tho night.