SPORTING.

Press, Volume XXII, Issue 2749, 30 May 1874, Page 3

SPORTING.

KOWAI PASS RACES. Stewards—Colonel De Ren-jie Brett. A. Hawdon, John Harris Brett, Captain Barker, J. D. Enys, George Rutherford, Junr. Judge: Colonel De Benzie Brett. Clerk of the Course—Lawrence Markey. Clerk of Scales— H. Williamson. Starter — A. Hawdon. Handicapper—R. Hustler. The Kowai fixture has hitherto been only another name for a thorough success, Originally started by a few real sportsmen, it has yearly increased in popularity. The course is, the metropolitan one excepted, certainly the best in the province. The district, which is manifestly daily increasing in prosperity, contains an unusually large number of men both ready and willing to forward sport with heart and hand. Their programmes have always been most liberal and well carried out. Under such circumstances we always look forward to the Kowai meeting as one of the most pleasant country trystes we visit, and though the drive from town is certainly of the longest, it is one which can never he uninteresting.

n the present meeting was not so successful as usual, cannot under the circumstances be wondered at. It was first advertised for the 28th April, then indefinitely postponed, and afterwards hurriedly advertised, we presume to prevent the meeting lapsing, for yesterday, the 29th May. A meeting got up in such a manner could scarcely be expected to come off well, especially at the very end of the season. It is to be regretted that the committee conld not, as they have hitherto done, acted in unison from first to last. Yesterday's failure, putting it as pleasantly as possible, was one of those exceptions which prove the rule of Kowai succes?, but we trust that the committee will put it out of onr power for many years to come to chronicle a second edition of it. The weather, bar a strong wind which lasted throughout the day, was sunny and pleasant enough The attcndarce was certainly limited, the locals only showicg up in small numbers, and in taking the census of the Christchurch contingent (under Mr Millett's care), we had no very ardnouslabor. Sergeants Mnllins and Felton were as usual the representatives of law and order, and without wishing to be personal, their pleasant manner was quite enough to disarm rowdyism, even bad there been any disposition towards it, which there was not. A booth erected under difficulties, and blown partially away three successive times, was presided over by Mr Palmer, whose drinkables were excellent, and indued above the

average of country catering. We missed the miscellaneous stand where the Ooddes=? Fortune distributes her favors im;.. 'My a the low price of sixpence, but *t - ■■■!>.. hoped the proprietor was better ••*scwhere. The arrangements were good, if \vc except the limited accommodation in the saddling paddock, and the want of a dressing tent for the jockeys. The former point we have often spoken oE before. Why it should be considered necessary for country meetings to have a saddling paddock size 12 feet by 12 is more that we can understand. In this respect all our district meetings are alike, aud now th:it most have settled racecourse?. lh-.-sooner they yet saddling paddocks on the principle of the Christchurch one the better for all concerned. Mr Hawdon wielded the flag as if to the manner borne, and Mr Markey made a capital clerk of the course, though we missed Mr Maxwell and the " Count." To come to the racing proper, the bail opened with the Hurdle race, which resolved itself into a duet between Mousetrap and Alice Grey—and a very successful one too. Tar-

burini was scratched, and why a horse of his calibre should ever have been entered for such a Btake over hurdles is a mystery Alice, who was manifestly on the gross side of condition, was made the favorite. She jumped iv far better form than she has shown lately ; but her opponent held her safe, bar accidents, after the first round. The winner, Mousetrap, made his first bow to a public audience in the role of a cross-country performer yesterday. He is a useful-looking little horse enough, and ran a few seasons ago in the Derby and Free Handicap. In the latter, with a light impost, he ran well up, but never got credit for much foot. He certainly jumped in capital form yesterday, and, bar (Sir Tatton, he is without doubt the best horse over hurdles we have seen here yet. He won easily enough, but good jumper as he certainly is, anything like big weights would bring him up. For the Farmers' Purse, five horses faced the starter, most of whom were far above the average usually brought out in such races. The winner, '• Grecian Bend," formerly known as Jerry, had it pretty well his own way at the finish. Ruahine, who had ran second, is a grand mare, whose low , condition alone, we believe, kept her from ! winning. She is by the Peer, out of Emerald, Emerald out of old Regalia, and a better cut of a steeple chase mare we have not seen for a long while. Black Bess is annat well-bred looking mare, though small. Konini's preliminary obtained for him many admiiers but he was completely outfaced. It was', however, so far as the horses were concerned, one of the very best farmers' races we have ever 6een. A protest was entered against Grecian Bend, on the ground of his not being a district horse. The protest was allowed, and the stakes consequently go to Ruahine. For the Kowai Pass Handicap four acceptors figured on the card. Messenger was an absentee, and the race lay between Dan O'Brien's pair—Tamburini and the Bat —and Alice Gray. It needed no very great judge to predict the result of the race. Old Tarn, who was as fit as we have ever seen him, had it all his own way. though he did not go to the front until half the distance had been covered. The Bat, who was anything but cherry ripe, was pulled off half way round, and Alice was not half good enough for the old horse The Selling Race only brought two to the post, and was won easily by Grecian Bend. As in the other District Race, a protest was entered against him, and as in the former case was decided against him. Whisker was consequently declared the winner. The Consolation was postponed until to-day. We append a detailed account of the various events. Handicap Htjbdle Rack of 30 soys, added to a sweep of 3 soys each. 2 miles ; over eight flights of hurdles. — Markey's g g Mousetrap, by Bay Camden — C.eepmouse, aged, 9st lOlbs, (Sheenan) 1 —Lunn's gr m Alice Gray, _yrs, lOst 4lbs (H.Lunn) 2 D. O'Brien's b g Tamburini, syrs, I2st ... dr. Betting : 2 to 1 on Alice Gray. Mousetrap jumped off with the lead and made the running throughout, both horses jumping well. Dp to the sixth hurdle Mousetrap held a lead of never less than six lengths, here Alice went up to within a length but died away at once, Mousetrap going in an easy winner by six lengths. Farmers' Ptjbse of £15, for district horses only. Once round the course. Entrance £1. Weight for age. J. D. Enys' b m Ruahine, by the Peer— Emerald, 6 yrs, 9st 91 bs ... (J. Hughes) 1 Morphy's blk m Black Bess, 6 yrs, 9st 91b (J. Lunn) 2 J. Main's b g Konini, 6 yrs, 9st 9lbs (Owner) 0 J. Searle's b m Spitfire, aged, 9st 91 bs (Fisher) 0 Palmer's b g Grecian Bend, by the Peer, aged,9st9lbs (Murphy) 0 After one false start, the lot got well away together. Ruahine and Grecian Bend being the first to show in front, to whom succeeded Konini, Black Bess, and Spitfire, in the order named. At the back of the course, Ruahine was still in charge of affairs, Grecian Bend second, the rest tailing off. At the turn, Grecian Bend joined issue with Ruahine, and the two raced together for a few strides, when Ruahine fell back, Grecian Bend increasing his lead in the run home, and winning easily by four lengths, Ruahine second, Black Bess a bad third. Grecian Bend was afterwards protested against and disqualified as not being a district horse. Kowai Pass Handicap of 40 soys, added to a sweepstake of £5. Distance, 2 miles. D. O'Brien's b g Tamburini (Towton — Opera), 5 yrs, lOst (Mason) I Lunn's gr m Alice Gray, 4 yrs, 7st 71bs (Derrett) 2 D. G'Brien'a br g The Bat, 4 yrs, 7st (J.Hughes) 0 Markey's b h Messenger, aged, 9st 91bs ... dr Betting—6 to 4on Tarn. Tamburini, who had by far the best of the start, jumped off with the lead, but was quickly passed by The Bat, Alice Gray lying back. Up to the mile post it was follow my leader, The Bat, Tarn, and Alice Grey running in the order named. Here the favorite went to the front, with The Bat on his quarters, Alice about four lengths behind. In this order they ran to the turn past the stand, when The Bat was pulled off, and Alice began to go up. Tarn went on with the running till the last turn, when Alice was almost on terms with him. From this to tbe finish the old horse diew away,. and won easily by a length. Time—4 mm. 11 se.-s Selling Race of £ —, entrance 10s. Once round the course. Catch weights. Winner to be sold for £15. Surplus to go to tbe fund. Evans 8b g Whiskey, 6 yra ... (Sheenan) 1 Palmer's b g Grecian Bend, by the Peer, 6 yrs (Murphy) 0 Grecian Bend made the running from the jump and won easily, bard held. He was subsequeutty disqualified as not being a district horse. The Consolation being held over till today, this brought the day's racing to a conclusion. In the evening the usual nice dinner was held at Bedfern's.