TUAPEKA RACES

Bruce Herald, Volume VI, Issue 403, 31 January 1872, Page 6

TUAPEKA RACES

This favorite meeting came off on Thursday and Friday last, and fully kept up the reputation that it has earned in former years From the number of strangers arriving upon Wednesday, in Lawrence, and the capital entrances of well-known horses for the various events, it was but reasonable to expect that with g?od weather, the sport would be fully equal to any former occasion in quality and excitement, an expectation that was fully borne out by the result. A continuation of the dry weather, we have so long experienced added greatly to the comfort and contributed considerably to the success of the meeting. The attendance was very large, and numbers could only be guessed at as old and young were scattered about everywhere on the faces of tie hills that surrounded the race course, indeed, many combined the pleasures of a s >ci;d •pip-nie.with a sight of the races, whilst here 'apid there young men and maidens might be •noticed, evidently, on another race intent, jpt was a pleasant scene tp see some 2000 people, released from daily toil, so thoroughly eVi^jo^ing themselves,, and with the exception df',a, ■agjiitary cas* or two of men having lain dd^«'^overp^«ered ultimately by the powerful 'effects of the sun combined with the equally powerful effects of the cup that inebriates, nothing was observed that could offend the

'most fastidious. The Tuapeka Race Course lies in a basin just behind the township of Lawrence, and measures exactly seven eighths of a mile— rather soft in wet weather, but in such weather as we have had lately, could not be better for running on. On the side next Lawrence sbood the -judges box, and immediately behind it the grand-stand erected above the booth, held by Mr Chalmers of the Half-way -House, on the road to Waitahuna. Behind the booth was the saddling paddock and committee rooms, conspicuous for their want of accommodation. The stand was not well patronised as equally advantageous positions for 'a 'view could be obtained on the hill side, so that unless interested in "time," "sweeps," &c, most people preferred " terra fir ma," and the open sunshine to being perched aloft under a roof of iron with the strong sun beating on it making it uncomfortably hot. Adjoining booth No 1. Avas booth No 2. attended to by Host Coghill of Waitahuna, who had ample provision made for supplying edibles as well as drinkables. Host Tanton, late of Waitahuna, now of Lawrence, held booth No 3. and received a fair share of what patronage was going. There was besides, a tea and coffee stall, fruit stalls and airguns by the half-dozen with " nuts for your money," an electrical machine, and " try your strength," besides a variety of " other little games " calculated to afford amusement and extract money from the pockets of the public. The first two events which took place, preliminaries, not on the advertised card, were a couple of foot races — the one, we believe, for fun, the other for money. The first was Draper v. Geeves — 150 yards, won after a good race, the latter beating the former— or the old man beating the young one. The second race was for L 5 a side— the same distance — Maidment v. Coppin. This race created great interest as both men are well known good runners — Maidment never having been beat, we believe, in Tnapeka, and Coppin being a Dunedin man. The race was splendidly contested, and was won by Coppin by not more than 6 inches — indeed many thought it was a dead heat. Shortly after this event the bell rang for horses to weigh up for the " Maiden Plate," and for which there were nine entries— and all starters. Mr H. Bastings having taken possession of the Judgjs box, and Mr Charles Nicholson whipped the course tolerably clear of intruders, the nine competitors were soon dancingattendanceonthe starter, Mr Lachlan M'Lean, who did not keep them long waiting for the fall of the white flag.

Maiden Plate, of 35 soys. : entrance,. 2 guineas : weight for age ; distance, one . and a half mile.

Prince's eh g Kiklare, G years ; lOst lib. (O'Brien) 1 Schluter's b g Salamander Sam, G years ; lOstllb (Mackay) 2 Smith's eh m May Queen, 4 years ; 9st 41b ... ... (French) 3 Philp's b g Littte George (late Paddy), aged; lOsb lib ... ... ... 0 M'Kimmie's b m Miss Gladstone, 4 yrs ; 9st'4lb ... ... ■ ... 0 M'Pherson's b a, Te Kooti, aged ; lOst lib 0 Pine's b g Chance, acred ; lOst lib ... 0 Cotton's b m Gentle Annie, aged ; lOst lib 0 Prince's br h Billy, aged ; lOst lib ... 0 At the start Little George took the lead, followed closely by Te Kooti and Gentle Annie. All the horses kept well together till coming up the back of the course when Kildare came away followed by Salamander Sam and May Queen. Kildare won, hands down, after a good race ; Salamander Sam a good second, and May Queen third, coining up very fast at the lasfc. — Time, 3 mm. 1 sec. Lawrence Handicap, of 00 soys., with a sweepstake of one guinea ; the second horse to receive amount accruing from sweep ; distance, one and a half mile.

Robinson's eh g Lyndon, aged ; Sst 61b (Gibbs) 1 Walter's b m Slander, aged ; lOst (French) 2 Robinson's blk g Backbiter, aged ; 9st 41b ... ... (Robinson) 3 Coombe's b g Catapult, 6 years ; 7st 91b (.) Pritchard's b g Patch. 4 yeara ; Sst Gib 0 Pritchard's eh h Foretop, 0 yrs : 7st 101 b 0 Langley's br m Duchess, G years ; 7st 81b 0

Slander started as first favorite. After three attempts the lot were got away to a very fair start. Lyndon went away with the lead, maintained it, and won a magnificent race despite the efforts of the favorite to overtake him. Slander finished second and Backbiter third. This race was a surprise, as it war 1 , understood that Lyndon wont to make the running for Backbiter, but his rider seeing the old black was too far behind to come up, with good judgment pushed on hot and, j\ist being able to keep it up to the finish, landed winner, to the chagrin of the "knowing ->nes," and the delight of those who had not oecn able to sell or give away their tickets f<>r Lyndon in the sweeps. Slander, we fancy, was kept back too long watching Backbiter, an error that was not committed with her afterwards Catapult had more weight than he could carry in such a race, and was nowhere. Duchess when first mounted, seemed to he in great fettle, and carried the boy half-way round the course, nearly bringing herself and one or two others to grief before she could bo pulled tip, but whether something went wrong with her or that the company was too good, we cannot say, one thing is •certain sue made but a poor show in the Tace. Time, 2 mm. 43 sees.

Handicap Tkottixg Race, of 25 soys. : en-ti-ance, 2 guineas ; distance, 3 miles ; no weight under 10^t 111 b. j. Williams' b g Ranger, aged '■; scratch (Williams) 1 M'Pherson's b g Joe Cope, aged ; 225 yards ... .. (M'Pherson) 2 Robinson's br m Modesty (late Flora

Temple) 250 yards (Mackay) 3 Coombe's b g Bobby, aged ; 375 yards 0 Smith's b g Rattler, aged ; 275 yards 0 Peters' b g King, aged ; 250 yards ... 0

B"bb'y trotted well for about two-thirds of the distance, but being off the grass; and not in condition, could not keep it up to the end. His days for trotting races are past, although we like to see 'the game little follow jit it. Ranger went as V/ell as ever we s.iw him go, and was well ridden by Jeff Williams, who landed him winner, with Joe Cope close up, second, and Modesty third.

Handicap Hurdle Hack, of 50 soys.-; heats ; over four flights of hurdles three and a half feet high ; distance, one mile and a distance.

Schluter's b g Honest John, aged; lOst

(Gray) Grant's cli g Pretender, 6 years ; lOst 61b

(Mac'kay) Prince's cli g Sir Tatton, aged ; Ost 121 b (O'Brien) William's Don Pedro, aged : 9st (Kelly) Laugley's b g Sir Charles, aged ; Bst 81T> (scratched) Pxiicliard's b g Patch, 4 years ; 9st 41b (Goodmann)

•Sir "Charles 'was scratched. Ist heat— Honest John went off with the lead, and though closely pressed by Sir Tatton and Don Pedro maintained it to the end ; Sir Tatton second and the Don third, Pretender fourth. Patch refused to negotiate the first hurdle, and ultimately threw his. rider — Goodman— but was soon caught and mounted by Mi' W. H. Taggart, who made him take it and the -others, whether he would or not, and so, after some trouble, went round the course. Sir Tatton was scratched for second .heat, and Patch having again baulked, Honest John kept him company leisurely, his rider reserving liirn tor the Last lieat. Tlie tactics no doubt wei'e good, but we think some time should be fixed to limit such an excess of hedging as was shown in thi3 heat. Second heat — Pretender first ; Don P«dro second.

Only Honest John and Pretender started for the third heat, when a splendid race ensued from start to finish, resulting in a victory for the former by a bare length. This race concluded the day's sport, which was throughout of the most honest description, a feature which is not always prominent in horse racing. As far as we could learn, there was not a great deal of betting, and everyone seemed highly pleased with the day's amusement. The proximity to Lawrence of the racecourse leaves but little chance of having to chronicle any "accidents on the road," and on this occasion we did not hear of any one, not even of its being necessary to impose a fine next morning at the Police Court.