HAGLEY PARK RACES.

The following are the particulars which we promised last week, of the "races, &c. in Hagley Park. At a public meeting of the subscribers, the following gentlemen had been appointed a committee to prepare the ground and act as stewards generally, viz.:—J. C. Watto Russell, Esq., E. J. Wakefield, Esq., T. Cass, Esq., A. R. Creyke, Esq., Captain Harvey, and W. Fendall, Esq. The course was very much improved from last year, by levelling, lengthening, and altering it so as to give a longer run in. It is now 1 mile and 150 yards in length, with a good start and finish. The first race had been advertised to start at noon ; but owing* to unavoidable difficulties, the business did not begin till nearly two, p.m., on Thtirsday, December 16. The Christcutjkch Ctjp, open for all horses. £2 entrance, with 6 guineas added. Twice round, over 6 sets of hurdles, 3 ft. 6 in. high. Weights for age the same as in the Wellington hurdle races. Second horse to save his stake. . The winner to pay £l towards the expenses of the course. Mr. Leach's bl. g. Harkaivay, aged, list, ■Owner ... . . # j Mr. Wakefield's nd. b. g., .Robin- Hood, aged, 1 Ist., Pye . . 2 Hon. J. S. Wortiey's bl. g. Ahd-el-Kader, <> yrs., list., Bentley ... ■: 3 Captain Simeon's San Francisco having fallen lame on the previous day, : paid forfeit. The race was well contested for the first time roimd, the horses taking their leaps gallantly. Jtbd-

el-Kader fell behind in the second round ; and a smart race ensued between the other two. Harkaivay was a length a-head at the last leap near the distance post, and struck a hurdle forward so that Robin Hood jumped on to it r nearly fell, and was beaten by a couple of lengths. A Foot Hurdle Rack followed this, over half a mile of the course and the two last hurdle's. Four competitors started ; and the prize of £5 was carried off by Blain. The Anniversary Plate, open for all horses. £3 entrance, with eight guineas added from the fund. Weight for age, as in the Wellington Jockey Club Plate. Second horse to save his stake. Winner to pay £1 towards the expenses of the course. Messrs. Gartner and Ellis's b. g., John Held, (late Orlando), aged, lOst. 41b., (Ambrose) . . . . . . . . . 11 Mr. Caverhill's b. m., Maid of the Mountain, aged, I'Ost. 41b., (Ge;ina\vay) . 3 2 Mr. J. B. Thomson's g. g., There-he-flies, 6 yrs., lOst. 41b., (Bentley) ... . 2 dr. Both heats were won easily by the old favorite, notwithstanding, the disadvantage of being ridden by a lad, who had to carry 'much dead weight. Hack Race. Post Entries—open to all horses that had not run in either of the precer ding races. Heats, once round. £1 entrance, with four guineas added from the fund. The second to save his-stake. Catch weights. Mr. Fendall's b. m., Merrylegs, aged, (Owner) . . . . ." , . . . 5.1 1 Mr. God ley's b. m., Whalebone, 4 yrs., (Bentley) . . . . . . . 1 2 2 Mr. Longden's b. g., Bobby, aged, (Leach) . . . . . .* . . . 2 dr. Mr. Bead's b. g., Prince, (Owner) . 3 dr. Mr. W. Bannister's bl. m., Black Bess, (Owner) . . . . . . . 4 dr. In the first heat Merrylegs bolted inside a post near the Christchurch road, and could never recover a position after pulling back. She was in fact distanced, but it was decided that she might run again as there had been no distance-post mentioned. As it was clear therace lay between her and Whalebone, the other three did iiot start again. The second heat"was won easily ; but the result of the third was rather a surprise, as Whalebone appeared to have a good chance on coining into the straight running. Countess, a mare who had distinguished herself last year, had been entered for this race; but on coining to the post all the others declared they would not start with her; and, as it was a condition of all the races that three should start or no race, her owner withdrew his entry in order not to spoil sport. Cart-ITorse Race, open to bona fide carthorses—los. entrance, with two guineas added. Once round. Catch weights. Mr. Read's b. g., Prince, . . . . . . . 1 Mr. Fen wick's c. g., . . 2 Mr. Smart's g. m., Dairymaid, .... 3 It being now about half-past six, it was decided to postpone the Consolation Stakes to Saturday. M. Burke, Esq., acted as Judge ; and Mr. Rule, as Clerk of the Course, appearing in orthodox scarlet and hunting-cap. The jockies were also nearly all in proper costume. The course had been well roped-in for about 120----yards near the winning-post. A goodly assemblage of drays and carts, and even two fourwheeled open chaises, were drawn up near,the Judge's stand. The attendance was very respectable and orderly; and the civility and attention of the policemen on duty deserves especial notice. We did not hear of any accident or disturbance, although there were 500 or 600----persons on the ground. Saturday, December 18. The prizes offered for minor sports not having been competed for on Thursday, the Committee determined to give the unappropriated surplus to a Handicap on this day. Owing to the fate hour at which the farewell dejeuner to Mr. Godley terminated, it was half-past five before arrangements could be made for a start. Thefollowing is an account of the race: — GENUiiAi/'HANmcAP, open to all horses entering by 10, a.m., on Saturday. Twice roundWeights'handicapped by the Coifimiftee. Second to save his slake, £1 10s. entrance, with £6 10s. added. ! " !

Messrs. Gartner and Ellis's b. g. John Held, aged, 10 st. 11 .lb., Ambrose 1 Mr.-Holland's b. in. Countess, 4.yrs., 9 st. 13 lbs., Gcnnaway ....... 2 Mr. Fendall's b. m. Merrylegs, aged, 10 st. -' 6 lbs., Owner . ■ '. 3 Merrylegs gave up before she was half way round; but an excellent race took place between the other two, John lieki barely winning by a head. " Owing to the lateness of the hour, the Committee postponed till Monday the Consolation Stakes, for all beaten horses beaten in any race on Thursday, entering by 10, a.m., on Monday. Twice round. Weights ' handicapped by the Committee. Second to save his stake. £\ entrance, with four guineas added. Mr. Caverhill's b. m. Maid of the Mountain, aged, 10 st. 4 lbs, Gcniiaway . . 1 Mr. Thomson's g. g. There-he-flies, 6 yrs., 10 st. 6 lbs., Beiitley .':'.'. .• . 2 Mr. Wakefield's b. g. Robin Hood, aged, 10 st. 4 lbs,, Fendall . . . . . . , 3

Won with the greatest ease, with several lengths between each horse. The settling took place on Tuesday night at the White Hart Inn. There is about £12 of the subscribed fund not yet collected, which is to be, when received, divided by the Committee in the same proportions as the sums added, between the winners of the different races, excepting the Handicap. There appears to have been scarcely any betting, although much interest was shewn in the racing on all three days. The Committee received valuable contributions in the way of cartage, loan of post*, hurdles, scales, &c, from Mrs. Williams, of Riccarton, Messrs. Watts Russell, Fendall, Thomson, Bishop, Swinbourne and Murrey. A subscription is already on foot for a racing meeting to be held near Christchurch on Easter Monday next; a Committee of management to be elected by the subscribers. We are'also "lad to hear that there is a chance of the formation of a Jockey Club in the course of the next year. We understand that Mr. Godley, not being satisfied with the manner in which his mare was ridden in the Hack-race, challenged Mr. Fendall to make a match with him.for the same distance, and on any terms he pleased. The match is to — OQVP.O "X ilie wocl: after ju'rxt.