SPORTING.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3037, 2 January 1892, Page 2

SPORTING.

OTOEOHANOA EACES. TllK Otonihnnga annual races came off on Tuesday last at Mara.B >hine. Almost 11 the last moment it looked .13 if the races would fall thr 'ugh, in consequence of tiie difficulty in securing a course. Owing to the illiberal spirit of the owners of the old course in the township, fin committee wer ■ quite unable to cnine to tTins with them for tho use "f the prmnd. Nothing ]«<s than the whole of the natc money wrull satisfy them, and such terms would of iipcess'tv have caused a loss to the lt'icincr Coinm ttee who had interested tliem-elves in getting up th • meeting. Mr John H/'t-t, however, was the man to come to tlio re>cue by ofFerinu tiw race committ-je the u-e of his land at the Mira».ohine for a cimtv-p, which r.lf. r ivas ac;copt?d, to tho pro it chagrin of the owners, of the old course, who tlvmeht they hul ho com.liittsn in a iix, and v/ho would, they thought, be compelled t> accept their ex >r lutnnt tirms rithe.r than di-appnint the public by not hnldine a meeting. Tl.e course marked out was n heavy gome one on lieht soil, and the dust raised by a tv.im.'iMiH bofiy of natives, as usual pa'l'iping about in all directions, caus-ed a cloud which inadfj ino-t of those present look as if they were in thn chimney sw«ri))ing business. Mr J. T. Hetet had a temi«:r.in?e booth on the ground, which was well patronised. Tho iiitondino was estimatbd between five and six hundred, the vrivat majority oeing Maoris. Mr G. T. Wilkinson officiated as judge and Mr J. T. Hetpt as starter. Both satisfactorily performed tiieir duties. Mr C. Kuik as clerk of the course, and Mr Cox in charge of the scale--, were most efficient officials. The sacre'arv, Mr \V. Searancke, as us'ial, was the busiest man on the course. Tho meeting pas?edoff most satisfactorily, not mi accident inarrinar the pleasure of the day's oiitinc. Tho following were the events as run : —

if.VN'DiCAI , Huiuii.H Hack, of tisov*.; Is iv. t • sro to sp.cnnd hiivse. Distance, 2 miles. Mr WethmlVa Ki-herboy, list. (Coriioy) J. Mr B. Kenwood's Alex., <M. 71b.

(Owner) HrK. llenwood'sMnscsit-illcf.Meredith)

Paora (10st.) iiul Mason (i)st. 71b.) also nil. This wa< a canitil race brtwoen the three placed horses, all bcioi* well figellier and taking their jumps without a mistake The finish was a very close one, and aft.ir a great struggle VisliHi-boy won by a nock from Alex. Hakptcai , Maidkn Hack, of ,l'">. JJislance, l.{ miles. Mr Dixon - s Del active, Sst. -lib. (Mererli'h) .'.. ~ 1 Mr Ncakin Skylark, 7sl V2\K (Maori)... 2 Mr J. T. lleiil's Taipo, 7st, 71b. ... a I'iMtest also van. JM.-H-tn *. went al once to the fi-iiii, was never h.-aded, and wrai easily by a length. Otorohaxca Cui" llasi)ic.\|-, of the value of £10; a sweeu of 5s to go to second hor-e. 2 miles. Mr Win. Searancke's Fiver, 7st. (Kmerson) 1 Mr Paratini's Mataina, Sst. 71b. (Meredith) 2 Mr Noka's Kismet, lOst. (Maori) ... o The above were tho only three horses untHi-eil for this raco, which was won with ease by Fiver. Skttlkbs' Hack Jlaniucal , , of the value of £4. Di.-taiice. I.'. miles. Mr,Se;trincl<e'ii''nvr, 7*(" 71b. (Nelson) 1 Mr J. T. Hetit's Taipo, 7st. 7lb. (Kmereon)... ... ... ••■ ••■ •■• 2 Mr- Nok.-u-i Clipperina,, lOsl. (Maori) ... IS Kismet a.nd Mataina were scratched. IJoth the first, horses pulled up when they bad another round to finish and ran off the course, giving Clipperina a rare chance_to win ; hut condition told and a close finish concluded a most exciting race. Maiden Hack Race, value £4. lOst. up. Distance, 1 mile. Mr Mason's Kahiri (Maori) 1 Kapiiiga ... ... ... •■• - Mr Hetit's Ofcorohungii 3 Kabiri won a=! he liked, the other horses only being entered to prevent the race falling through. Oo.vsor,ATiOiV Hack, for ;r,U beaten horses, valued. Distance, 1 mile. Mr Vanitini's Mataina 1 Mr Xoua'-i C-'ippenna - Mr Dixon's Alex 'J These wei-:! the only starters, and Mataina won without trouble.

WHATAWHATA KACES.

The following are the results at the Whatawhata race meeting, held yesterday : — Handicap Hurdles. Scpptress 1 Bub 2 Maiden Race. Skylark 1 Recall '-' Whatawhata Handicap. Deceiver 1 Mataiua... ... .. ... •■ 2 Settlers' Race. Recall 1 Hilda 2 Ladies' Bracelet. Sceptress 1 Fiver 2 Consolation Stakes. Mataina... ... ... ... . . 1