THE WELLINGTON RACES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5302, 8 February 1879, Page 2

THE WELLINGTON RACES.

\ - [by special wire.] Wellington, February 1. The first event to-day was the Derby. After some hesitation, Dundee was in- ! stalled the favorite.-, The race was a pretty one, but condition told its tale, and a fielder drew first blood. The Derby, a sweep of ten soys, with 100 soys added. _ Colts Bst 101 b; fillies, Bst 51b. One mile and a half. Yallance's Merlin Blue Boy Malice (Nolan) 1 Webb's Dundee (Fuller) . . . . 2 — Barbelle was scratched at 1 p.m. Betting 3 to 2 on Dundee. Dundee was troublesome at the post, and four false startswere made, in three of which Merlin was the first to move. On the flag falling Dundee was pulled back, and ran about three lengths behind, until half the distance was covered, after which he closed in at the two mile post, but a short length separating them, and at the back of the course the pair locked neck and neck. A pretty race ensued, but on entering the straight Merlin, who had kept the inside running throughout, was half a length ahead. Dundeee then began to whip hard, and half-way up the straight Nolan had to rouse his horse. The race was, however, won by half a length, with a little in hand. The loser is the faster of the. pair, but was not as fit as his conqueror. Time, 2min. ssecs. Hukdle Handicap, 2 miles, over 8 hurdles. R. M'lvor's Grey Mornus (owner} . . 1 P, Buttler's The Agent (Hankins) . . 2 H. Prince's Eversley (Layford) . . 3 | — Eoebuck also ran. Te Whetu was scratched. Betting 3t02 on The Agent. After a false start, in which The Agent was the most prominent, the flag fell. Eversley at once took the lead, and led- over the first jump, Grey second, Roebuck third. The same order was maintained over the next jump, when The Agent took Roebuck's place. Two more jumps were crossed in this order, but half a length separating the first and third horses. Eversley then commenced to drop back, and The Agent got his head to the fore, and led over the next two jumps. The run into the straight was now reached, and as it was entered The Agent's rider had his whip out. The race by this time was virtually over. When the pair rose for the last jump there was half a length between them, but The Agent hit hard and came down. His rider was, however, unhurt, and quickly remounted and passed the post before Eversley, who was some distance behind. Roebuck was outpaced. Time, 4min. 14sec. WELLINGTON HANDICAP, Of 200sovs., the second horse to roceive 25sovs. One mile and a half. Butler's Laertes . . . . 1 W. Gibson's Otawa 2 Vallence's Lady Ellen 3 — Bribery, Lara, and Longlands also ran. Betting even money on Lara, 5 to 2 Bribery, 2to 1 Otawa. The flag fell to a start of which Bribery had much the best. Lara was soon pushed to the front. This pair exit out the running until the throo-qurter mile v post. Here Lady Ellen, who had been running unkindly, closed, and Otawa afterwards joined the company. Bribery was the first to call, and Lara soon afterwards fell back. Laertes was now observed to be coming through, and a great race ensued, but the leader won without difficulty by half a length. Time 2min. 46 sees. HACK RACE. This was not a race at all, Annie jumping away with the lead arid winning by about twenty yards easily. Free handicap of 50 soys. Five furlongs, the winner of the Racing Handicap to carry 71b extra. Butler's Laertes . . . . 1 Young's Sailor . . . . 2 Knight's Saunterer . . . . 3 — After some delay the flag fell, Sailor, as usual, being the first away. The twoyear old raced him every yard until the run in. Sailor attempted to run off, and he forced the colt right across the course. Laertes then made his effort and secured the lead, winning hands down. Time, lmin. 16secs. EMPIRE PLATE. Of lOOsovs, the second horse to receive 25sovs from the stakes ; weight for age, One mile and a quarter. Belcher's Expectation *% . ,- 1 Knight's Lara . . *. ' 2 ' Ray's Diver 3 — Harkway and Otawa also ran . Betting, even on Lara, 5 to 2 Otawa, 3 to 1 E,x-

pectation and Diver. Harkaway got the best start. Otawa got wretchedly away. Lara and Expectation soon drew away. Diver, at the back of the course, closed up, but soon dropped back. This time it appeared a cortainfcy for Lara, but tho niaro stuck to him, and being fresh, managed to win by a quarter of a length. Time, 2min ISsec. CONSOLATION 1 HANDICAP. Of oOsovs, the second horse to receive lOsovs from the stakes. Otawa . . . . . . 1 ■ Undine . . . . . . 2 Rata . . . . . . . . 3 — Betting even on Undine and Lady Ellon, 2to 1 Otawa. Black Prince and Lady Ellen also ran. Tho flag fell to a s^art in which Rata and Lady Ellen had the best. At the back of the course Lady Ellen drew away, but Otawa, who Had seemingly been out of it from the jump, closed very fast, and entered the straight close to the leader. He gave well under tho whip, but never could, head the mare, which carried the pot. A protest that tho mare crossed when starting was allowed, and the stakes were awarded to Otawa.