WELLINGTON RACES.

Press, Volume XXII, Issue 2680, 10 March 1874, Page 3

WELLINGTON RACES.

We take the following account of the first day's racing from the " Wellington Independent ':—

The racing throughout the day was splendid, the only hitch which marred complete success being the false start in the Maiden Plate, which threw two horses out oj the race altogether. Leaving this out of sight, everything passed off- in a highly satisfactory manner, and in a manner affording the greatest satisfaction to the stewards as well as to the public. The race for the Cup was well contested, though Mr Campbell's horses had it all to themselves, but a finer tussle than that between Kakapo. and Guy Fawkes in the Steward*' Purse could not be witnessed, j Kakapo's jockey held the two-year-okl far too cheap, and his owner paid the penalty. The fact of the matter was, Sutherland intended to win, and could have done it easily, but in doing the thing scientifically he cut it too fine and Guy Fawkes turned the tables by winning by a nose. Tommy Dodd proved himself a good horse for a mile, as he won the first two heats in the Ladies' Purse very cleverly, which was due in a great measure to Mr M'lvor's skilfql pilotage. Having already noticed the admirable manner in which the stewards carried out their duties, it is only necessary to supply a description of the races, which were run off as follows :— The Maiden Plate, of 40 soys ; entrance, 3 soys each. One mile and a-fcalf. Weight for age. Mr R. H. Campbell's b f Delusion, 3 yrs, Sstllb (J.Cotton) 1 Mr M. F. Baird's Mischief, 5 yrs. 9st l»lbs (Baird) 2 Mr Reenall's c g Steel Trap, aged, 9st lllbs (Casey) 3 Mr R. Greathead's Nutwith ... (Cotter) T> Mr J. Robinson's gg Magnet...(Sergeant) 0 At the fall of the flag, Magnet and Nut. with, both being very restless, jumped away . but though the secoud flag was not brough," clown, Cotter and Sergeant commenced to race, Nutwith having the inside. A

splendid set-to was the result; bat the two-year-old eventually shook the roan off, and passed the winning-post only to discover that the trouble had all been for nothing. After a little delay, the other three horses were sent away to a good start; but shortly aft'r, Steeltrap led by about a leugth. Delusion dropping to the rear about the same distance behind Mischief, who occupied second place. Each of the hindmost horses improved its position so mnch Hint the three were in a line when passing the stand. They proceeded in this manner till reaching the l>*ck of thn- course, where the filly, the ouly horse of the three that galloped like a racer, came away from the others and won in the commonest of canters, Mischief taking second place. The Wellington Cup of 150 eovs, added to a sweepstake of 10 soys each, half forfeit. Two miles. Second horse to save his stake. Mr B. H. Campbell's cc Castaway, 3 yrs. Bst (J. Cotton) 1 Mr B. H. Campbell's bf Delusion, 3 yrs, 6st 71b (Walker) 2 Mr T. V. Brown's b g Lochinvar, 5 yrs, sstlolb (Sergeant) 3 Mr J. M. Watt's b m Hatred, 6 yrs, 9st (Sutherland) 0 Mr J. M. Watt's br f Batter, 3 yrs, 6st 71b (Brimmer) 0 Betting—Even on Castaway, 3 to 1 against Hatred. Upon the fall of the flag Castaway just got away in front, but immediately after Batter led, with Lochinvar, Castaway, Hatred and Delusion following in the order named. At three-quarters of a mile Castaway drew upoa the leading horses, Lochinvar in the meantime having got half a length in front. Passing the stand Delusion was close upon the quarters of Lochinvar, Lochinvar holding third place, and Mr Watt's pair bringing up the rear. Lochinvar had improved his position so much by the time the back of the course was reached that it was thought he could never be caught, but he gradually came back to Castaway, who was soon on even terms with him, and a splendid race ensued. Batter was by this time completely out of the race. Coming up the distance, Lochinvar and Castaway were level, but the Wanganui horse had shot his bolt and gradually fell back, leaving Castaway to finish as he liked. Just at this point Delusion came up with a strong rush to get past Lochinvar, which she did without much effort, and, having the steam on, she forced Castaway to go his best pace to pass the post first. Only a head separated the two, Castaway being first. Lochinvar finished third, and Hatred fourth, a few lengths behind the winner. The Ladies' Purse of 20 soys. Entrance, 2 soys ; welter weights for age. One mile and a half. Gentlemen ridere. Heats. Mr B. M'lvor's Tommy Dodd, aged, 12st 41b (M'lvor) 1 1 Mr T. V. Brown's b g The Peer, 6 yrs, 12st 41b (Walker) 2\ 3 Mr J. Robinson's c g Magenta, aged, 12st 41b (Robinson) 3 2 The heats are easily described. In the first Tommy Dodd, who was beautifully ridden, made a fine race with The Peer, the two horses never being clear of each other from start to finish. The riding of the two jockeys was magnificent, but Mr M'lvor landed Tommy Dodd a winner by half a length. In the second heat The Peer seemed completely and was out of the race. Magenta, however, made a good show, but Mr M'lvor [again brought his horse to the front, and won a most exciting race by half a length. The Stewards' Puese, of 40 soys; entrance, 2 soys ; weight for age. The winner of the Wellington Cup to carry 7 lbs extra. Once round and a distance. Weight same as for one mile. Mr Stevenson's br h Guy Fawkes, 2 yrs, ost 61 bs (Cheesman) 1 Mr Watt's b c Kakapo, 3 yrs, Bst 31bs, (Sutherland) 2 Nutwith and Flycatcher also started, the latter spoiling his chance by running against a post. Nutwith rushed away with a lead of a length, Kakapo being second, and Guy Fawkes five lengths in the rear. At the baqk of the course, Kakapo went up to the leader, and the two raced shoulder to shoulder together for some distance, Guy Fawkes gradually lessening the gap that separated him from the others. Nutwith soon after gave place to Guy Fawkes, and the finest race of the day ensued between Kakapo and the two-year-old, Kakapo had the advantage of inside position, but this was more than counterbalanced by the difference in weight carried by the two horses. Sutherland was holding his own hands down, while it was evident Cheesman was riding hard. From the distance up to within fifty yards of the stand the two raced nose and nose. Sutherland then let Kakapo out, and the colt drew away about a yard, but Cheesman saw that he had come to the telling point and rode every inoh of the distance. The light weight upon Guy Fawkes enabled him to respond to the call, and he just forged ahead, and won by a nose. Cheesman was loudly cheered upon coming to the scales. Hack Baoe.—A hack race, which was won by Mr Walker's Baupo, brought the day's racing to a close.