WHATAWHATA SPORTS AND RACES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1952, 10 January 1885, Page 3

WHATAWHATA SPORTS AND RACES.

In spite of tlics croakers who predicted a poor day's racing and lots of rain, wo had a large attendance of good horses, and many of them in tirst-rato form, and as regards the weather, the clerk of the elemental department must have been in an exceptionally good humour, as the day was one of the finest we havo had this spring. Whatawhata donned its best bib and turned out to a man, not forgetting the fair sex, who graced the field in Targe numbers, ali bent on spending an enjoyable day, and I am happy to Hay that nothing occurred to mar the pleasure of the occasion. The races were, one and all, well contested, and all concur in saying they never saw so many close contests, proving the correctness of the old saying, that it is not the best horses or the highest prizes which make the best sport. Two dead heats caused much excitement, and repetition of event. The day's business was carried out in a manner which reflects the highest credit on those gentlemen who have laboured for—and have achieved a great success. A quieter and more orderly day's sport I have seldom witnessed. I saw one solitary guardian of the peace strolling about in a most dejected manner, but he made tracks for home at an early hour, evidently disgusted with the low ebb to which businese in his particular line had fallen, not having found one man obliging enough to get drunk or otherwise to misbehave. In fact, he went away looking quite Wild. I was much pleased by a circumstance which came under my notice. Two of the jockeys were having a civil jaw about close riding and the too free use of the whip. One of them rapued out a horsey oath or two, when one of the other jockeys (to his infinite credit) called out sharply, " Now then, you Sir, none u{ that language here uulesis you

want to be kicked off tho course." Please call that jockey a man and a gentleman. If his example was followed mere generally, we could bring our wives and children to enjoy the good old English sport of racing. A thriving trade was clone by two stalls for tea, coffee, cake, and other soft drinks and sweet, eatables. The stalls were well supplied with fruit, as was also a waggon, which I saw returning empty. The day was wound up with a ball, which, under the. management of Mr and Mrs Crawford, went off well without a hitch, and was vo'ed the b n st and best attended we have had for a long time. The. Ngaruawahia brass K.-vnd enlivened the scene, and discoursed sweet music on the emeu space in front of Mr Dawson's hotel, and also chased the fleeting moments iv the ball-room at night, lending joy and speed to the light hearts and heels of our lads and lasses, who went home amausr the wee sma' hours, declaring that the.y had thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The. following account of the races I obtained through the courtesy of tho clerk of the race committee : — Huuoi,k Rack, of £7. Won by Mr Baker's Clover. Jonathan came in first, but his jockey thoughtlessly dismounted before passing the judge. Clover coming in second carried off the stakes. Haxoicap Rack, of £7. Mr Jones'Orakau 1 Skttlkks' Rack, of £U. Mr Corboy's Ladybird 1 Maidkn Rack, of £4. Mr Jones'Norma 1 The Consolation of £3 10s resulted in two dead heats between Mr Nicol's Derby and Mr O'Connor's Colonist. The stakes were ultimately divided. Trotting Rack, of t'l 10s. Naylors Napier 1 A Maori Race closed a good day's racing. —(Own Correspondent.)