KAKANUI ANNUAL RACE Meeting.

North Otago Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1161, 29 December 1875, Page 2

KAKANUI ANNUAL RACE Meeting.

Stewards : Messrs George Gordon, George Campbell, George Matthews, Alex. Thornton, Bobt. Morton. Judge : Neil Fleming, Esq. | Starter : J»s. Wbeatley, Esq. Clerk of tbe Course : Mr W. L&wson. Handicappers : Messrs Wheatley, Gordon, and Thomson. The great interest taken in this increasingly popular annual meeting could not be more satisfactorily proven than by the large concourse which, it brought together on Boxing Day, despite the worst of Jupiter Pluvius. The day opened foggy and wet, and closed foggier and "wetter, though for two or three hours in the afternoon the rain ceased, and the sun did hit best to gain a victory, only, however, to be vanquised in the end. Necessarily, yery few ladies were present, -but altogether there could not have been far short of a thousand visitors to the course, who reached it from all points of the compass, by all sorts of vehicles, and every means of locomotion, from coaches and four down to Shanks' nag. The Grand Stand, owing to the limited number of the fair sex, was but poorly patronised, but tbe refreshment booths seemed to do a pretty good stroke. These respectively bore the insignia of mine hosts of the Royal, Mr Manning, and of the Devonshire, Mr Stock ; while for cakes, &c., without ate, Mr S. Burns had a dispensing counter, and the Glasgow Pie Home, Oamaru, a branch establishment. Of amusements there were plenty, including Rouge et Noir, Field Billiards, and a very buxom Aunt Sally, at which as usual a certain 1 well known legal practitioner had | many a shy. The amusement of the day — the racing — was on the whole excellent ; the pace, considering the heavy state of the course, fast ; a good field for all the events, and no accident occurring of a more serious nature than the laming ot a horse in the Hack Race. Not a single hitch occurred throughout the : day, and great praise is due to the Stewards, and all concerned, for the excellence of the arrangements. Huedib Handicap. — 35 sovs, with a sweep of 2 sovs each ; nomination, 1 aov ; acceptance, 1 sov ; distance, 2 miles, over 6 flights of hurdles. Mr Wm. M'Kay's ch g Banjo, aged, lOit (W. Smith) 1 Mr A. Paterson's b m Maid of the Mill, aged, list (F. Hedge) 2 Mr L. Grant's br g Morven, aged, 9st (ridden by J. M'Gregor), also ran. Mr H. Goodman's ch g Pakcha, 9st 71b, was scratched. Betting ; Even money on the Maid ; 2 to 1 Banjo ; and 4 to 1 Morven. The start was a good one. After going about a hundred yards Banjo took up the running, the Maid second — close up — Morven a few lengths behind. In this order tuey came to the first hurdle (opposite the Grand Stand) which they all took in fine style, old "Ban" gaining almost a length in. the jump. The second hurdle was taken by Banjo and liie Muid almost together, the old horse uguin g»iuing ou the mare at the jump. Morvon, who was threo or four lengths behind, struck the hurdle and threw M'Gregor, and the girths of the saddle giving way, the horse bolted, and lost all chance of winning. M'Gregor was not hurt owing to the ground being so muddy. Banjo and the Maid went ou together till they had passed tbe stand a second time, when the mare began to tail and drop behind, although she still took her jumps willingly. Coming to the last hurdle Hedge began to flog, and the mare responded gamely ; but Smith shook the old horse up, and he took the last hurdle about a length in advance of the mare, -winning a fine race by about three lengths. Maiden Plate. — 25 sovs ; for all horses that have never won an advertised race of over 20 sovs ; weight for age ; entrance £1 10s ; distance, 1£ miles. Mr G. M. Evans' b m Deception, aged (Evans) 1 Mr R. M'A-uly's Numa, 4 yrs (S. Smith) 2 Mr J. Henderson's b g Rambleaway ... 3 Mr A. Paterson's g g Blue Peter, Mr L. Grant's g g Selection, Mr W. Davis' b g Seven Bells, Mr T. Thomson's b g Mischief, Mr A. Chrystal's b g Sankey, and Mr P. Dunbar's ch f Coy also van. Hctting : Even money on Blue Peter ; 2 to 1 Selection ; 4 to 1 Seven Bells ; 5 to 1 Deception and Rambleaway ; 7 to 1 Nunia ; 8 to 1 Sankey and Mischief j and 10 to 1 Coy. Mr Wheatley got the lot away to a splendid start, Deception jumping off with the lead, followed closely by Seven Bells and Numa. Passing the Stand Sankey bolted off the course and his chance was lost. Going round the back of the course Deception increased her lead, the favorite (Blue Peter) falling entirely in the rear. At the second turn fiom home, Rambleaway began to creep up, and successively passed Seven Bells and Selection, and when they ran into the straight Blue Peter came up again, passing Seven Bells mid Selection, and challenged Rambleaway. Half way up the straight Deception still further increased her lead, and ultimately won as she liked by about 100 yards. Numa second, four lengths ahead of Rambleaway, and Blue Peter half a neck behind him. Evans, the rider of Deception, was loudly cheered on retiring to weigh-in. Kakantji Handicap. — 60 sovs, with a sweep of 2 sovs each; nomination, 2 sovs ; acceptance, 1 sov ; distance, 2 miles. Mr T. Thomson's ch g Merry Monarch, 5 years, 7st (H. Gourley) ... 1 Mr W. Swanson's ch g Sir William, 5 yrs 7st 91b (Alex. M 'Mill un) ... 2 Mr J. Henderson's b g Rumbleaway, 5 yrs 7st. 3 Mr R. M'Auly's b g Ringleader, aged, 8sfc 21b, and Mr. W. Davis's b g Seven Bells, aged, 7st 71b, also ran. Mr Cahill'a ch g Lyndon, nged, 8sfc ; Mr Paterson's g g Blue Peter, 4 yis, 7at 41b, and Messrs Little Bros, ch g Celaeno, 6 yrs, 7st 91b, were scratched. Betting : Even money on Merry Monarch, 2 to 1 Ringleader, 3 to 1 Seven Bells, and 5 to 1 Sir William and Rambleaway. The horses went away to a pretty start, Sir William taking the lead, with Merry Monarch and Ringleader in close attendance, in the order given. After going three-quarters of a mile, Merry Monarch challenged and passed Sir William, and Ringleader drew nearer to the first two. The second time round, Merry Monarch held a clear lead of three lengths, and Ringleader began to fall back, as if he had had enough, Rambleaway and Seven Bells toiling hopelessly in the rear. Coming into the straight for the last time, Sir William challenged the " Monarch," but Gourley was ou the watch, and when Sir William came up alongside, he lefc the " Monarch" have his head, and he shot to the front, and won a very pretty race, by about two lengths. Rambleaway beating Ringleader for third place. A protest was lodged by James M'Gregor, against Merry Monarch receiving the stakes in the Kakanui Handicap, on the grounds that the jockey lost his cap during the race, and it was handed to him 6 before being weighed in. Evidence having been taken by the Stewards, it was proved that the joclcej did not receife hit cap till after he bad weighed in, bo the proteit was dismissed as frivolous.

Selling Hack Back. — 20 soti; winner to bo told immediately after the race for 15 iovi ; surplus, if any, to go to the Race Fund ; 10 atone up ; post entry, 1 iot ; distance, 1 mile. - Mr Gh M. ETam' b m Kathleen (Evnm) 1 Mr S. Grant's ch g Comet (Sunning) 2 Mr W. Swamon'a ch g Don Juan (M'Gregor) 3 The following horiei also ran: — Mr H. Stock'* Cure, Mr A. M'Kay'e Poor Boy, Mr W. Aitken'i Maggie, Mr Jas. Beattie's Maheno Lass, Mr T. Tray's Lady Mary, Mr A. Peterson's Miss Bedouin, Mr James Henderson 1 * Te Kooti, Mr Caldwell's Bobby, Mr Prevoet's Billy. Mr Nicholl's Stella, and Mr W. Nicholl's Knngaroo. Comet, Kathleen, and Don Juan were most fancied, but there was not much betting on the race. The flag fell to a splendid start, Kathleen taking up the running, and maintained the lend till the last turn for home, when Don Juan 'Collared her, and the two raced together to within a hundred yards of the winning post, when M'Gregor laid the whip on the colt, and lie immediately shut up and swerved to the side of the course, when Kathleen and Comet passed him, the former winning by about four lengths. A protest was entered by Alex. M'Ka/ against a jockey named J. Robertson riding in any race, on the ground that he bad left M'Kay's employ without receiring his discharge. The stewards, after consideration, disallowed the protest, and the boy was therefore allowed to ride. Publicans' Handicap. — 40 cots, with sweep of 2, sots each ; nomination, 1 bov ; acceptance, 1 sot j winner of Kakanui Handicap to carry 71b penalty ; distance, 1£ miles. Mr G. M. Brans' b m Deception, aged, 7st (W. M'Kay, jun.) 1 Mr T. Thompson's ch g Merry Monarch, 5 yrs, 7st 71b (H. Gourley.) 2 Mr J. Cahill's ch g Lyndon, aged, 8st 71b (G. Robertson) 3 Celwno and Fakeha also ran. Ringleader, Rambleaway, Selection, and Blue Peter were scratched. Betting : Even money Merry Monarch ; 3 to 2 Lyndon ; 2 to 1 Pakcha ; 5 to 2 Deception ; and 3 to 1 Celceno. The start was a good one, Deception and Merry Monarch going off with the lead. When they had gone half a mile these two bad tbe race to themselves, the others being out of it altogether. Coming into the straight Deoeption led by a length, and though Gourley worked hard and well on " the Monarch" the mare won a fast race by about a neck, Lyndon a bad third, the others nowhere. Young M'Kay was carried shoulder high, amidst great cheering, from the sculee, and the Messrs Evans came in for a good share of congratulation. They backed their mare to win, and run her to win, aud we hope this is not the last time this game, plucky animal will carry their colors to the fore. The owner of Merry Monarch entered a piotest against Deception receiving the stakes, on the ground that she had been entered as an aged mare, whereas, he alleged, she should bare been entered as six and aged. The protest was dismissed as frivolous. Novel Rack. — 40 sots ; winner to be sold immediately after the race, the whole of the proceeds to go to the Race Fund ; weight for age ; post entry, 1 sot ; distance, 1| miles.

Mr A. M'Kay's b gKeefer.aged (W. Smith) 1 Mr L. Grant's ch g Bobby, aged (J. M'Gregor) 2 Mr W. Davit's b g No Gentleman, aged (Johnston) 3 Pakeha snd Lady Bon also ran. Betting : Even money on Reefer and Tso Gentleman, 2 to 1 Bobby, 3 to 1 Lady Don. At the start, the running was taken up by No Gentleman, Reefer coming second, a length behind; Pakeha third. After a mile had been traversed, Reefer gradually drew up to No Gentleman, and (he two entered the straight together. About two hundred yards from home, Reefer was half a length a head, Smith steadying him, and watching No Gentleman, who was evidently beaten. But M'Gregor brought Bobby up with a tremendous rush, passed No Gentleman, and challenged Reefer. Smith shook the game old horse up, and ho just managed to win a splendid race by half a length. No Gentleman three lengths away. Keefer was afterwards put up to auction by Mr Neil .Fleming, and bought in for L25. By this time (5.30 p.m.) the rain was coming down heavily, and all haste was made to get through with the Consolation Haotjtcap. — 20 sovs; for all beaten horses at the meeting; post entry, 1 sov ; distance, 1 mile. Mr W. Swanson's ch g Sir William, 5 yrs, 8st71b (Stanning) 1 Mr J. Cahill'a ch g Lyndon, aged, 8st 71b 2 Messrs Little Bros.' ch g Celaeno, 6 yrs, 7st5lb 3 Blue Peter, Numa, Comet, and No Gentleman also ran. Betting : Even money on Sir William, 3 to 2 Lyndon, 2 to 1 No Gentleman, 4 to 1 anything else. When the flag fell, Lyndon jumped to the front, and led off at a rapid pace, Sir " Billy" close at his quarters on the outside, and No Gentleman occupying the same position on the inside. In this order they went for half a mile, when Sir William gradually drew ahead, winniug a comparatively easy race by three lengths ; Lyndon second ; Celaeno coming at the finish and securing third place. At 6 p.m. a rush was made for the trapi, and at 8 p.m. all arrived safely in Oatnaru, notwithstanding the fact tbat some of the drivero were rather "fresh," and the roads terribly heavy.