TROTTING RACE AT ELLERSLIE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1163, 9 December 1879, Page 2

TROTTING RACE AT ELLERSLIE.

On Saturday afternoon a considerable numbor of people assembled at the Ellerslie Gardens, to witness a trotting race m which a good deal of local interest was manifested. . There were ton entries for the match. The first prize, £5 ; the second, £1. Mr Owen C. McGee officiated as handicapper and starter, Mr George Lendrum as judge, and two referees were appointed fco accompany the lace and see fair play. The rule was that any horse who broke should at once pull up but not turn round, and ib was fortunate that this was so, for owing to the narrow circuit of the course requiring 6 laps to complete the distance, and tbe number of breaks which occurred, had the rule of turning been enforced, . the race would look more liko a circus waltz than a bona fide race. The bandjcap was by distance, not by weight, but it was imperative that each should carry 10 stone. A good start was j made, and the race resulted as : follows : — I I. Gwynne's g m Polly, 23yds. „ 1 Sandall's eh g Sandy, 30yds'. . . . . 2 Montague's g g Dainty, 50yds. . . 3 D. McDonalds b g Yoiuig Akeake, 40 yds. . . . . . . . . . . o N. McDonald's b m Fantail, 40yds. . . 0 Gatland's g g Charlie, 40yds 0 D. White's eh g Bob, 20yds. . . . „ 0 -b m Polly, 25yds. . . . . 0 Barnett's b m Creeping Jenny, scratch . . . . „ „ . . 0 Creeping Jenny and Young Akeake were the favorites at the start, but the latter could not be persuaded to start, except ab a canter, and was therefore left behind. Creeping Jenny came np with rapid strides through all her horses, and after the first round it was apparent that tbe race had dwindled to a match between tbis mare, and a fine-looking grey mare riddeu by her owner, Mr Isaac Gwynne. Both broke several times, aud passed each other alternately, keeping close together, round after round. At the finish there was a good deal of excitement. Mr Gwynne's grey Polly was the first to pass the judges' stand, Creeping Jenny second, and Sandy, a long distance m the rear, was third. It was objected that on two occasions Polly broke and was not pulled up within a reasonable distance, but the referees- decided against this view of the case, aud the first place whs awarded to Polly. A protest was entered against Creeping Jenny that she went inside one of tho posts. The rider did not deny this, bnt urged that he was crushed inside. The judges ruled, however, thafc he should have turned back aud come on the conrse again, and awarded the second prize to Sandy. There was an effort made then to get up a match between Creeping Jenny and Polly, iv order to test their merits fairly ; and, although this did did not come off on Saturday, it probably will m a few days.--— N. Z Herald.