AUCKLAND MILITARY RACES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 268, 21 September 1864, Page 5

AUCKLAND MILITARY RACES.

Thf. Kpsoin Spring Meeting of ISGl—as v.-e imagine we may vrrv fairly call it, —commenced, yesterday, under the most favourable circumstances. The meeting, although under tlie peculiar inauguration of our ! military fii'-nds, was nevertheless of such a free and ! liberal description as t" throw a largo share of com- ! petition open not only to the Colonial Military i forces, but also to the purely civilian element. Much j curb and earnest, consideration, had been bestowed 1 in perfecting all the preliminary arrangements. Men, i horses,' and the arena of display were subjected to judicious training. It was, therefore, a matter of 'some anxiety whether, at this season of vernal equinox, the wi/atlicr would so far hold good as to make oriimr the sport proposed. From the wet and wintry aspect of the previous week, there was but little to be hoped from the atmospheric; tendencies of yesterday. And, indeed, as morning broke, sharp and successive showers augured but indifferently lor a day of pleasure. Nevertheless, as morning verged to- | wards noon, the watery clouds dispersed; and the clerk of the weather seemed to opine that Auckland having proclaimed a day of universal festival it would hi; very ungracious on iiispart not to subscribe to the public desire. i It is thf: custom of our British sporting contcmi poraries not only to dwell, at length, upon the merits ; of horses and riders : lmt to furnish elaborate por- : trait.ures of "the road" and its incidents. We, how- ; ever are 110 spoiling chroniclers ; nor is the road from i Auckland to Kpsom so distant as to be fruitful of description either or pen or pencil. 11 we say that ! every sort of vehi.: 'e—among which we may instance ;;i Ve'w of the " Albert" cars, —a recent Melbourne ; importation—and, by the way, (as wo think) an ugly ' transposition of the far-lamed Irish jaunting Car — ■ was pressed into the day's service, we shall still como ' l'-i'r short of the means that were employed in the i conveyance of her Majesty's liegemen to the I " I'otter s" field. There were Cobb's Yankee coaches, i Sydney-built 'buses, spiders, dog carts, nay even i ambulances were brought forward for the nonce— ' whil-t " Shanks' mare" was oil the active trot Jrom 1 an earlv hour. ! To old fogies, like ourselves, " the light of other ■ days" seemed to burst in pristine brilliance around lis" lIS we entered the onue familiar course, wliere " A .icho," " Jack," and " Tomboy" were the features' of )/«•('/• day, and where many of enthusiastic minds— now gone'to sleep-were not less joyous than tlio choice spirits of yesterday. 'I he " Potter s held was I vc-slerdav more brilliant than ever. Some remnants : ' 0 f hv-t'one times were there, with their ancient leaven j -till'unsubdued. And if the gathering was larger, i the love of the sport was not one whit less appre-

eribk* The Committee of Management arc fully entitled, •uid will, no doubt, receive the; hearty acknowledgements of the public, not merely for the pains they have taken in providing such sport as that they vcterda v ~resented, but for the courtesy ana con'sidrrati m manifested in all their arrangements ; and which we are pleased to learn, our fellow townsman, Mr. liardington, liberally participated. Mr. Har(lington is tho lessee of the field He placed it at tl.o ilisDOsal of the Committee. And, as Auckland has it been wUo enough to purchfi.se, like Jlobart Town, i-iblic but has been driven, season •ift>'i" season, —now to Epsom—now to Otahuhu-and ' . to ]Cllerslie the tender ol such a course as that l" s'd bv Mr jrardington cannot bo over estimated. The 0 lfobart Town race-course was purchased by a i ,int stock" company. It has a capital grand-stand ; is of considerable extent; weU laid out; and in addi-

tion to its value as a place of frequent colonial recroation, we may add that it yields a very handsome annual per ecntage to the shareholders for tho capital invested in its purchase. To return to the doings of yesterday. Shortly after ore o'clock, the first race was set in motion. We may observe tnat there was a very large concourse of spectators ; that the course though heavy, was in capital order; and t..at, under the charco nt'a few mounted men of the Military Train and Auckland Police, the greatest decorum prevailed. Captain Green, M.T., starter, Lieut. 15. Creagh, M.T., Clerk of the Course, and Mr. De Burgh Adams, Judge, according to tho mot of tho day, were " all there." Til K FIHST EVENT, Was for the Ladies' Purse, value 25 sov., added to 11 sweepstakes of 6 sov. each, half forfeit ; for horses bona (ido the properly of ollicers of the army, navy, or colonial forces, and ridden by tho same ; 3 years old, 9st; 4 years old, lOst. 41bs.; 5 years old, lOst. 101b. ; 6years and aged, list. About 1 mile. There were thirteen entries, all of whom with the the exception of Mr. Anderson's Little Charlie, came to the post. Tliev were — Air. Graham's Herald, aged Captain .Ruck's (C.T.C.) Cyclops, aged Lieutenant St. Hill's (A.D.C.) Dainty Ariel, aged Mr. Wav's (D.F.) First-Class, agod Jlr. Appleton's(M.T.) Virginia, 5 yrs Mr. Woollield's (A.M.) Elatcutchcr, 5 vrs Major Walmesley's (D.F.) Maori Chief, 5 yrs Mr. Kelly's (0.V.) Lottery, 5 yrs Mr. Campbell Me Ivor's Mountain Deer, Mr. Mark's Locket, t yrs Mr. Spillers's (C.T.C.) Nemesis, t yrs Captain Kuck's (C.T.C.) Kathleen, 5 yrs This was a good race, run in two minutes, and won easily. 'The following were thus placed—Dainty Ariel, Kathleen, Virginia. 'rui: SECON'U RACE, Was the Criterion Stakes, of -A sov. each, half forfeit, with 10 sovs. added ; for horses bona tide and unconditionally the property of officers 011 full pay of the regular army, or navy, on tho day of entry, and ridden by the same; list. 71bs. each. About 2 miles, over six. llights of hurdles. Mr. Anderson's (R.A.) Kiwi Lieutenant-Colonel McNeil's (A.D.C.) Sydney Captain Stone's (M.T.) Little Dick Colonel Morant llarkaway Mr. Xoogood's (K.A.) Shamrock Lieutenant St. Hill's (A.D.C.) Fly Colonel Hamilton's (I'ilh) \\ ine Merchant The Nun was the only one that failed to present herself. At starling the others got away well together, Liltle Dick, 1111 old often tried favourite leading and looking very like a winner. He took his leaj s ill his accustomed style, and appeared to be in better temper t ban usual; but he had a younger and determined antagonist in Wine Merchant, who popped into the first place, leaving Dick a good second, and Fly a very fair third. TUF. TlIIUl) HACK. Was the Auckland Stakes, (if o sovs. each : hall forfeit, with ;>0 sovs. added; for horses the property of or nominated by ollicers on full pay of the regular army or navy. The winner to be sold immediately alter the race for 100 sov., if demanded, or carrv 71 lis. extra; if entered, to lie sold for 50 sovs., allowed 71bs.; wiuuers of IUO sovs., at any one time, 10 carry 71bs. extra. r J he winner of the Ladies' Purse lo carry 71bs. extra; mares and geldings allowed 31bs. Three horses, the properly of different owners, to start, or only 25 sovs. will be added. lOst. each. About miles. Lieutenant St. Hill's (A.D.C.) Dainty Ariel agid, list. Mr. l'ailey's Young Towton, 3 yrs, lOst. 71b. Mr. Appicton's (M.T.) ns Virginia, 5 yrs, lOst, -Mb. Captain Harris (13rd) lisHundee, 5 yrs, lOst. Captain Smith (K.A.) 113 Mountain Deer, 5 yrs, lOst. 71li. Mr.'Anderson (K.A.) 11s Merrimac, 4 yrs, list. 111b. Mr. Toogood (R.A.) 11s Flatcatcher, 5 yrs list. 1 Übs. Mr. Ivobson (R.A.) 11s Cyclops, aged ilst 111b Dainty Ariel took the first place; Virginia the second, Cyclops the third. THE I'Ol'llTll UACE Was the Open Steeplechase, value '"'0 I'sovs., added to a sweepstakes of 2 sovs. each, halt forfeit, open to all horses, list. 71bs. each. About I wo and a half miles. Mr. Appicton's (M.T.) Balsam Mr. Anderson's (K.A.) Kiwi Mr. Toogood's (K.A.) Shamrock Mueli interest seem, d to be attached to this event, Shamrock, fiom his breeding, standing well in estimation. Jle, however, declined fencing, so that tlie contest, lay between I'.alsam and Kiwi, the former leading and looking as if bent upon distancing bis adversary. Kiwi, nevertheless, pulled up and passed his rival, coming in an easy winner. Til K FIFTH UACE Wes the Open Pony liace, of 1 sov. each, with 25 added, open to all ponies 14 hands 2 inches and under ; catch weights. About three-quarters of a mile. Mr. Stanton's Trim a Donna Mr. Kelly's Young Prince Mr. Toogood's (K.A.) .Hill Downy Mr. Lcir's (M.T.) T'opsy Mr. Appicton's (ALT.) Light foot Captain Reeve's (M.T ) Kanny Mr. Howard's (70th) Kitty Clyde ' Mr. E. Woollield's Scarlet Jvuuner Mr. Chieno's Aunt Sally Mr. Case's Jack Shepherd Mr. Stafford's TOlll Steel Lieutenant St. Hill's (A.D.C.) Fairy Mr. Gardner's Lucy Mr. Stewart's Katty Darling Fifteen entries, and but one withdrawn. l'.ill Downy was the general favourite, and the event justified the good opinion entertained of him. He cauio in a clever first, followed successively by Topsy, Young l'rince, and Liglitfoot. Tin; sixth kaci: Was the Tradesmen's Plate (lho gift of the Tradesmen of Auckland), added to a sweepstakes of 2 sovs. each, half forfeit ; for horses as qualified in the Criterion Stakes; list. 71bs. each. About one mile and a quarter. Mr. Appicton's (M.T.) P:\ganilli .Lieutenant. St. Hill's (A.D.C.) Fly Colonel Hamilton's (12th) Charlie Captain Trench's (loth) The llermit Captain linker's The Nun Captain Creagh's (50th) Niger Mr. Toogood's (R.A.) Shamrock This was admirably contested—old Niger doing his work in grand style, and passing the winning post amidst a storm of approving cheers ; l'agauini second, Charlie third, and Fly fourth. This event concluded the first day's sports. Everything went off in the most orderly and harmonious manlier. 'There was neither accident nor collision of any kind. It was a meeting convened for the purpose of social enjoyment, and was conducted, from first to last, in a sociable and enjoyable spirit. The grand stand, superior to that of all}' previous meeting, was closely packed, a large sprinkling of the fair and most atlraclire part of Ihe creation, occupying the benches. The refreshment rooms were managed in a very different style from those which provoked so much merited censure in January last ; the viands and the liquors, and the mode of their presentation being really unexceptionable, The beautiful Hands of the 18th and oOtli Regiments, discoursed in turn, some of their choicest music; and if we may judge of the promise of to day from the performance of yesterday,we can have no hesitation in affirming that the Kpsom Spring meeLing of lS'St, will prove Lo be tho best that has yet taken place in the province of Auckland.