TROTTING RACE AT ELLERSLIE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5635, 8 December 1879, Page 5

TROTTING RACE AT ELLERSLIE.

■*• ■ Ox Saturday afternoon a considerable number of people assembled at the Elleralie Garden's, to \vitae39 a trotfmg race in which a good deal of local interest was manifested. There were 10 entries for the match. The distance was two miles. The first prize, £5 ; the second, £1. Mr. Owen U. McGec officiated as handioapper and starter, Mr. George Lrnrtrum as and two referees were appointed to accompany the iace and see fair play. The rule was that any norse which broke ehould at once pull up but not turn round, and it was fortunate that tins was to for owing to the narrow circuit of the courss requiring G laps to complete the distance, and the number of brciks winch occurred, had the rule of turning >een enforced, the race wonld look more like a circus waltz than a boha fide. race. Ihe handicap waa by distance, not by weight, but it was imperative that eieh should carry 10 stone. A good start was made, and the race resulted as follows : — Mr. I. Gwynne's cm Polly. 25yds 1 Mr. Sanilall's ch g Sumly, 30yds. * Mr. Montague's g g Dainty, oOyds. ... ■•• <s Mr. D. McDonald's b g Young Akeake, 40y ( Ig 0 Mr. N. McDonald's b m Fantail, 40yds. ... 0 Mr. Gatland's g « Charlie, 40yds 0 Mr. D. White's ch g Bob, 20yds 0 bin Polly, 25yds. •••■•■ ° Mr. Barnett'a b m Creeping Jenny, scratch U Creeping jenny and Young Akeake were the favourites at the start, but the latter could not he persuaded to start, except at a canter, and was therefore left behind. Creeping Jenny came up with rapid strides through all her horses, and a'ter the first round it win apparent that the raco had dwindled to a match between this mure, and a (ine-looking grey mare ridden by her owner, Mr. Isaac Gwynue. Both broke several times, and passed each other alternately, keeping closo together, round after round. At the iioieh there waj a good deal of excitement. Mr. G Wynne's grey Polly was the hrst to pass, the judges' stand, Creeping Jenny secoud, and Sandy, a long distance"in the rear, was third. It was objected tbat on two occasions Polly broke and was not pulled up within a reasonable dis'auce, but the raferees decided against this view of the cane, aud the first place was awarded to Polly. A protest was tutere 1 against Creeping Jenny that she went inside oue of the potts. The riiler did not dui:y this, but urijeil that he waa crushed insi le. The jiuUfs'ruled, however, that ho sln.ul-1 have turned back aud come on the course, again, and awarded the second prize to Saudy. There was an tftort made then to .jet up a match between Creeping Jenny aud Polly, in order to test their merits fairly ; and, although this did not come off on Saturday, it probably will in a ftw days. Flat Bace. —2 miles A tlat race, distance 2 miles, for a svicps-t.-ikea. There were live entries : — Mr. McDonald's Young Akeake 1 Mr. D. White's ch g Bob 2 Mr. Sau Jail's Sandy 3 Mr. Kelly's horse and another started, but soon after the drop of the flag Mr. Kelly's horse bolted over the fence with his rider, throwing him at the other tide. He rcrnounted again and faced his horse back to the course, but this time he stuck on the ft nee aud waa, with some difficulty an'l at considerable risk from the other horse?, (jot over. He galloped round the course, bu , , bolted again at the same spot, and, of course, was out of t'.'.e race. There was a moderately close race between the first two, and it resulttd as above in favour of Akeake. Hurdle Race.—l 4 miles. A sweepstake hurdle race, li mile?, over 9 hnrd.'e3 was then got up and 5 started, but the jumping was miseiable, some declining altogether to negotiate any of the hurdles. The race was won by Mr. Kelly's horse, the only one which went round. The people assembled then dispersed homewards apparently pleased with the afternoons sports.