SPORTING. The Kihikihi Annual Races.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1670, 20 March 1883, Page 2

SPORTING. The Kihikihi Annual Races.

Si I wards • Mo=stb Andrew Kay, J. L. Tole, J. J. G. klmsly, J C Giicrsun, V r H. Grace, 1' MrfilJon.il'l, .md T. licir\. Simuik. Mr 1 Vi.uei-.. Ci i kkoi !'•> . Mr 11. l.innui. Cm rks <>V mi. Cckksi. . Messrs Maunders mil lUilh. II wine M'i'i'Kb : T.lessrs Goo. Wilkinson and 1". WVithcnll Jinx.!' : M.ijur J.K.kton. Sicki iaiu : Air W. H. Nicholbtm. The above jaccs took j>lace on the racecourse, .it Kihikihi, on Saturday last, S. Patrick's Day, ami were, as mas anticipated, an unqualified success, both in point of attendance and good fields, and the weather, though decidedly anpie ibant on the day previous, was all tlut could have been desired. The attendance, consulenng the scitteied li.ituic of the dibtricb, was unexpectedly large, there being not loss than 500 people picscnt, a large proportion of whom weie natnes. As there was a chat go made at the spates, the committee, we should say, iliew a consideiable revenue from that source. Mi Corboy had a booth ou the ground, and provided for the want>> of the public in the matter of refreshments, and this accomodation was supplemented by a temperance refreshment booth. The stewards, of whom we might particularise the energetic seci etary, had 'apparently excited themselves to seemc a successful days' cnteitaiumcnt for the public, and in tins they weie veiy successful. We would vecommend, howe\cr, that iti' future no unnecessary delay should be allowed in starting the races, as on this oocasion the fii&t event on the programme did not start uqtil fully an hour after the advertised tune. The couise, owing to the heaviness of the rain on tlio previous day, was somewhat lmavy, but not what could be called unpleasantly so. As for the racing, the two principal events were what might justly be termed failures. In the Hurdles, for which siX started, three of the competitors fell over the first hurdle, the others baulking. Though the falls looked somewhat severe, the riders sustained no injury. Sportsman staited a warm favouiite, but was considered in rather bad condition to distinguish himseif, and the surmise turned out to be correct. Hastings, ran \vcU f»<om the start %o the finish, proving himself a very honest old horse, the Cup Clover's win was not a very popular one, a 9 this event was anticipated as a oortainty for Robert - the - Devil. Doubtless Robert would have won it, had his rider not pulled up at the wrong time, The other eveuts were closely and well contested, exciting i much, interest, The following is a more detailed acaount of the races :—: — Handicap Hurdle Rage, of 17sovs. ; 1$ miles, over six flights of huidles. Nomination, 10s ; acceptance, 10s ; post, 10s. Top weight, 12sfc. Mr Hettifc's c q Hastings, aged, list 51b ... 1 Mr G. Kays c q Wauwanga, aged lOst 21b 2 Mr Rutherford's c q Sportsman, aged, 12st 3 Cossack, Faugh-a-Ballagh, Now Chum., and Qrakau, The } iW n§s gqt off with ft good o^arf;, but the field was somewhat upset at the f^rst hurdle, Qrakau, Cossaok and Wauwanga, tripping and. unseating their, riders. The other horses baulked, leaving Hastings to go ahead and win aa ho Wavjwaufia ft n( l Sportsman made good running towards the last, but Faugh-a-Ballagh did not appear in the race sifter the first hurdle. Maiden Plate, of 12sovs. ; 1 mile j post entry, £1. Mr R. Goodwin's Lottie 1 Mr Hettit's Poni 2 Mr S. McCann's Flytrap 3 Tohti, Tonga, Fish, Kori, Motuite, Resolution, and Snak;Q also, started., The hcjr^et} l^ept plflse tp4jeth,er froca start to finish, and the race biejng exceedingly well cqn tested on.c, Kihikiiu Cup, of 25sova ; 1$ miles. BTqmination, £1 ; aocQpt^RQO, 10s j at ' the post, 10s. Top weight, lOst 71os. Mr G. Kays b q Clover, aged, 7st 71ba 1 Rewi'a b'g'Doctoi-, 6yrsj lOat 71bs ••■ 2 < The third horse was distanced. Roberfc-the-Devil and Saint also started. This was looked forward, to, as -tlje event of the day/ biit the race resulted more in disappointment than , satisfaction. The ihoraes got away witH' l^ bad start.

pectedj but towards thVclbse of the! raee 1 he crept well to the frdrit. 1 doctor and Closer made good running, the latter horse takingithriJe&dalortoSt^hrOHghonti , At the finish of the, ,third round when Robert was second he was pnlled iip, his rider through/ aoine miaunderjtßndingr thinking' the rttceVaa finished} -thrf other* horses continuing in the f race, nJEJad he been allowed to 'continue the' general opinion was that he would have made! a! safe win. ■> t , • t , Maori Race, of £5 ; second horse, £1 \ , , , post entry, 103 f . . , Tangi Tangi ... *..'. ... 1 ! Buckland ... ... ... 2 ' Minnie. 1 ?.- ---. — -3 J Robert-the-Devil-and New Chum? also started. Tins event was a certainty for ■ Robert had his rider not fallen off at tl\e baok of 'the' course. Having 1 his rider, or we'itiight say ,the-, rider having thrown himself, the horse continued in the race, and; took second place,,,, to the great amusement of the onlookers. Selling Hack Race, 'of 'Ssovs. ; 103t. up. Winner to be sold for £12, surplus. to go to the club ; post entry, 15s. i Snake ... ... ••• ••"• 1 Blue Gum , ..., 2 , Matilda, Kopara, Blue Peter,' Robin, and Evelyn also started. This was a .very well contested race, the field keeping well together from start to finish. Snake ran slightly in the lead from the beginning, but only wpn by about a head. The winner was sold for £18. Poxy Jlace, of osovs. ; ; top weight, 9st. 71b. ; for ponies 14 hands 2 inches ' andunder ; 4lb. per inch allowed ; winners of any race value £10, penalty, 141b. Post entry, 1 Os. Tohu Teangi ... 1 Wamba 2 1 Six others also" started. , *; ,