NELSON RACES.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume X, Issue 471, 15 March 1851, Page 12

NELSON RACES.

The Nelson Races of 1851, which had been so anxiously anticipated for many weeks past by no inconsiderable portion of the population of our settlement, are now among the departed things of the world ; but unlike the races of former years, we can find little to say in their favour. With every promise of sport equal at least, if not superior, to that of any previous year, by a combination of untoward circumstances we have been well nigh deprived of sport altogether. The primary cause of this has been the small field of horses entered to run, and the singular combination of ill luck, which threw three horses out of the five intended to contest the principal races out of the field. We mentioned last week that Young Barber had been withdrawn, thus leaving only Patch, Cruiskeen, and Brunette, to go for the Turf Club Plate, strengthened by one additional filly (Miss Budge) for the Ladies' Purse and Scurry on the" second day. On saddling to start for the third heat of the first race, _ and when Brunette's backers were 'sanguine of seeing two more heats run before the Plate would be won (for ift was evident her work was intended to be done at- the finish), the mare fell lame, and was thus prevented from starting. The third heat, therefore, lay between Patch and Cruiskeen, but the horse, formerly so lasting, was now in no condition for such severe work, having gone into training far too late, and the old gelding had the race all his own way. - The disappointed spectators tried to console themselves that all would be right next day, when it was hoped the mare would be recovered ; but, the old saying, that " misfortunes never come single," was to be verified to the letter, for when the horses made their appearance on the course the following morning, it was found not only that the mare still continued too lame to run, but that Patch was amiss, and in no condition to sjart, so that he also was withdrawn ; thus 'caving only Cruiskeen and Miss Budge in ih« field. To run the filly agaiust this lan^trous nM horse would only have been tc de»iiuy aii c.iance which sbf might have for the next race, so Miss Budge, too, wa& withdrawn, and the Puree, which usually

excited so much interest, both on account of the fair donors, as well as the strong contest which always had taken place for its possession, was now to go unclaimed. The same cause of failure of the chief race of the day, also operated against the Scurry, which was run without interest, and prevented the Beaten Stakes from filling. A good field of hacks did what they could to enliven the company, and this, with the Waimea Stakes, (which was however a good race), comprised the whole day's sports. A3 if- nothing should be wauting to render dioappointment complete, the weather also was unfavourable, and occasional showers of rain rendered, the attendance comparatively thin, and affected the comfort of those present. But it is time to give the running :— »

Tuesday, March 11.

TURF CLUB PLATE of Twenty Sovereigns, added to a Sweepstakes of Three Sovereigns each ; ' second horse to save his stake. Weights for age:— Three-year olds, fist. ; y four, lOst. 71bs; five, list; six and aged, list. 2lb»; 4lbs. to mares and geldings. The winner of any advertised race in New Zealand, except a htfrdle race, hack stakes, or stakes for beaten horses to carry 4lbs. extra. Two mile heat*.' Mr. Cork's b g Cruiskeen, aged. . . . (T*. Redwood 2 11 Mr. Harkness' br h Patch, aged . . . . (H. Redwood 1 S 2 Mr. Elliott's br m Brunette, aged (Eyes 3 2 dr

Ist heat — Patch made runnings a moderate pace, the gelding second. At the back .of the course Cruiskeen went in front, and carried on the running at an improved pace to the last turn, where Patch came again, taking the lead from the distance, and winning easily by a length, Brunette, who did not go for the beat, being pulled up at. the distance. Time, 4 mm. 12 sec. 2d heat — The lot went off together, Brunette and Patch leading alternately during tbe first round ; in descending' the dip the second time, Patch took a strong lead of two or three lengths, which he preserved till entering the straight run home, when Brunette ran up to him, and after a short struggle at the distance defeated him; about half up she was collared by Cruiskeen, who came with a rush, and won a very pretty race by half a length. Time, 4 mm. 11 sec. 3d heat — Patch made all the running to the distance, where the gelding went up, passed him in a few strides* and won easily by a couple of lengths. Brunette, who had gone lame after the 2d heat, was drawn. The GALLOWAY PLATE of Seven Sovbkeigns, added to a Sweepstakes of One Sovereign each, for all horsei not exceeding U hands; second hor;e to save his stake. No horse entered for any race where ten sovereigns is added, to be allowed to ., start. Catch weights. Heats, oflte round. Mr. H. S Martin's bk h Taipo, 4 yrs . .' (Owner 1 1 ilf. Fisher's r m Forest Lass, 6 yrs (M'Kune 3 3 Ist heatT— Fo**est Lass made the running to the last turn, where Taipo passed her and won easily by a length. 2d heat — Taipo made all the running, and won by half a dozen lengths. / The HACK STAKES of HALr-A-SovHREtGN each, Five Sorereigns added, for all hacks ; second horse to save hi* •take. Catch weights. Heats, once round. Mr. Watt's bk g Raffler, aged (Owner. 1 1 Mr. Morse's bk g Frolic, 4 yrs S 9 Mr. Kelling's br m Patty Mr. Palmer's bg Raffler won easily.' The TALLY-HO PLATE of Fifteen Sovereigns, added to a Sweepstakes of Two Sovereigns each. Over sit seta of hurdles, 3 feet 9 inches high. Weights for age: — Three-year olds, 9st. ; four, ir>at.7)ba. ; five, list. ; sixand aged, list. 2lbs. ; 4lbs. to mares and geldings f second , horse to save his stakes. Heats, once round and a dhtance Three horses to start or no race. \ Mr. Harkness" br a Patch, by Snoozer, aged.. (H. Redwood 1 Mr. Dale's eh g Brother Harry, aged (Owner dis Mr. Cork's b g Cruiskeen aged (T. Redwood dis Cruiskeen and Brother Harry refused the hurdles until Patch was half way round, and were distanced. Patch walked ovd*for the second heat. Wednesday, March 12. LADIES' PURSE of Twenty Sovereigns, added to a Sweepstakes of Two Sovereigns each; second horse to save his stake. Weights— l 4 hands, Bst. 71bs. ; ylbs. al- . lowed or carried extra, for every inch under or over : 4lbs£ to mares and geldings. The winner of the Turf Club Plate, or Tradesmen's Plate, in any year, to carry lOlbs. extra. Heats, once round and a distance. Mr. Cork's b g Cruiikeen, aged wo Mr. Harkness' br h Patch, aged pdft Mr, Elliott's br m Brunette, aged pd ft Mr. M'Donald'sbkfMiss Budge, Syw pdft As only Cruiskeen came to the post, apd the conditions required that two horses should start,' the Ladies' Guineas were not given, and Cruiskeen walked over for the sweepstakes. The WAIMEA STAKES of Seven Sovzxeighi, added to a Sweepstakes of One Sovereign each, for all horses sot exceeding 14$ hands, second hone to save -his (take. Weights: 14$ hands, lOst. ; 4lbs. allowed for exeryiach under. Heats, once round and a distance. Mr. Godfrey's br m The Pet, 4yr» (Owner 1 1 Mr. H. S. Martin's bk h Taipo, 4 yrs (Owner 3 2 Mr. M'Donald's bk f Miss Budge, 3 yrs <Owner 2 3 Mr. F. Kelling's br m Patty, 4 yrs , pdft - The two mares went away together at a capital pace, Miss Budge having a slight lead. In coming up the run home, The Pet went in front, and won a close race by rather less than a length. Distance, 1 mile 332 yards. Time, 2 rain.. 25 sec. 2d heat — Taipo made the running for the first half mile, when The Pet took the lead, increased the pace, and won easily by a couple of lengths. The SCURRY STAKES of Ottm Sovebeign each, Ten Sovereigns added ; second hone to save his stake. Weights : the same as for the Ladies' Puric. The winner ot" the Turf Club Plate, Tradesmen's Plate, or Ladies' Purse in Nelson, in any year, to carry lOlbs. extra. Heats, once round. Mr. Cork's b g CruUkeen, aged .... (T. Redwood 1 wo Mr. M'Donaid's bk f Miss Budge, 3 yrs .... (Owner S dr Mr. Elliott's br m Brunette, aged, pdft

' Cruiskeen led from the post, and won hard held, by two lengths. WAIRAU PLATE of Them Sotb««ioj*« mAn.A ♦ Sweeptake. of Pive Shu^ngs^cb" for" hacks^hSf h?r£ to pay the second horiPa stake. The winner of the H«fc Stake. not to be allowed to rt«t. &*%s£? 8£ s 1 .:; (C - Red ™ d * S

SaW*? ° f .° ae S ? verei Bi» «eh, for all horses that have started and not won in the previous races; second horle Pur?, 7 ' n" " take " J w«Bhtsthew «Bhtsthe same as for theLaS Purse. Once round and a distance. Mr. Elliott's br ax Brunette, aged. .'.... pa ft. v Brunette being dead lame from her accident of the day before, paid forfeit, and Miss Budge walked over for her stake.

! So much for the past Races ; let us now consider their prospects for the future. We have on former occasions said that weattach an importance to these Races beyond what racing is entitled to generally. It i 8i 8 not the pleasure merely of seeing a few welltrained horses try their speed one against the other, nor the utility of these trials in leading our settlers to pay some regard to the improvement of the breed of horses in the colony—though we appreciate fully the pleasure and the service— but their great merit is the social gatherings they bring about, which, in a widely-scattered population like ours, is a most serviceable thing. Strangers in most instances to one another^ we have met in a place which a few years since was a wilderness, and, it may be said, are isolated from the whole, world. In the severance of all the social ties which took place on leaving kindred and friends, It became natural for those whom chance had thus thrown together to seek to establish new friendships, to take the place of those which distance had weakened or destroyed. For a few years, while all resided within a short distance of one another, we met almost daily, and a constant interchange of thought and good feeling was kept up amongst us ; but the original narrow bounds of the settlement were burst at la3t^ and then came * another exodus, which broke up all the little social circles which had been formed, and scattered friends far and wide. To live in the Wairau, the x Waiopi, or Awatere, although as the crow flies not more than fifty miles distant from Nelson, is yet, for all purposes of communication, to be as far away from us as New York is from London. That must be worthy of encouragement then which once in the year reunites so many old friends and acquaintances, and brings together the scattered members of families. For whether the object be considered wbrthy or "unworthy, the fact is undeniable, that the Races do promote these social reunions, and induce many persons to take long journeys to town who otherwise would remain front year's end to year's end at home, seeing little of the world or its inhabitants. The prospect of the Races for the next year becomes then a matter of some consideration, particularly after the present failure - r and although the danger of a "slip bejtjreen the cup and the lip," is nowhere more applicable than to horse racing, yre think we may yet promise ourselves that the Races for 1852 shall not resemble those of 1851. As one ground of hope, ,there will be for the first time a Leger Stakes, *fyich will bring forward two, if not three, ufJjNed young horses ; then we are indebted to Mr. Duppa for an importation from Van Diemen's Land of five thorough-bred mares and two colts, some of which we hope to see figure on our turf next season; arid lastly, there is every probability that a gen- . tleman of esteemed judgment will visit the , neighbouring colonies within a few months for the purpose of purchasing some blood stock, and the horses thus imported will giv« future races a zest and an interest they have '^er yet possessed. For the present, then, iwa take our leave of this our annual sport, expressing a hope that when we have to ' record the result of another year's performances, it may be in terms of congratulation instead of disappointment.

The following are the entries for the Port Stakes of 1854 :—

Tke PORT STAKES of Tuti Sovuuons each, P.P.. Twenty Sovereigns added by th« Turf Club, for the produce of .mares covered in Nelson in the season of 1849— 50, to run at the Nelson Autumn Meeting, 1854. Second hors* to «ye hu stake. Colts, Bst. 71bs. ; fillies, Bst. 3lbs. The winner to give one dotea of port to the Club on the day of the ram. ■ One mile. * Mr. Tinline'i bk f Zingara, by II Barbine, out of Gipsey. i Mr. Stafford's br c Sceptic, by Glendon, out of Modish. Mr. Stafford's eh c Sting, by Glendon, out of Beeswing. Mr. Redwood's br f Deceit, by Patch, ont of Deception, by Camerton. Mr. Weld's b e Sultan, by Glendon, out of Mir»a, by Akbar, . dam by Barefoot. Mr. Harknesi' br f, by Patch, out of Beeswing. Mr. Elliott'* br f (dead;, by Glendon, out of Brunette. Mr. Wilson* b m Fair Helen, Mr. Jollies br m Lady, and Mr. Stafford's ns. eh m Rosebud, by II Barbiere, out of Moss Rose, had no produce. . , Mr. Bedborough's b m Madame Veitrif, by Buffalo, dam bY Hector? did not declare.

Our arrivals this week have brought news from England to November B,_ received in Sydney by way of California. Some extracts we have given are important.