MANGAWAI RACES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6280, 3 January 1882, Page 6

MANGAWAI RACES.

The Mangawai annual races took place on j ,j Boxing Day, with fair success. The day was ' £ is iovely as could be desired, which made the meeting a very enjoyable one to the □nmerous visitors who assembled to witness the sports. The events could hardly be Balled well contested, but sufficient uncertainty in each case prevailed to cause pleasurable excitement to the on-lookers, as in few instances the favourite won.. One unfortunate accident occurred, which greatly grieved a number of his friends. Salivator, the horse of Mr. John Moir, in an unaccountable manner broke his leg, fortunately without injury to his rider. The usual capital refreshments were provided by the proprietor of the Mangawai Hotel, who has largely increased his premises, which, as they were previously adequate to supply the drinking wants of the community, indicate that the new wharf and steamer running here have already brought an increased trade to the district. The house is really now a large, well-furnished hotel, with a bar one would think almost too handsome for its requirements. The following are the results of the races : — Mangawai Cm , . Ist prize, £B.—Mr. Wilkie's Dick the Devil, 1 ; Mr. J. Moir's Salivator. As above stated, the second horse broke its leg. Gcm-dicger's Pap.SK. Ist prize, £S ; 2nd, £I.—Mr. J. Sarah's King Quail, 1 ; Mr. W. Stewart's Collin, 2. Two others ran. Settlers' Race. Ist prize, £7 ; 2nd, £I.—Mr. Parlon's Magieian, 1 ; Mr. J. Sarah's King Quail, 2. King Quail having run in (he previous race, I think prevented his winning this. Two others also ran. Hack Race. Ist prize, £4. — -Mr. J. Sarah's Jumper, 1. Mr. Fry's No Name, 2. Jumper wa3 packing till withiu a few days of the raco, and was ridden bare-backed by the owner. Two others ran. Pony Race. Ist prize, f-5 ; 2nd, 10s.— Mr, P. Wilson's Tommy, 1 ; Mr. Fry's Fish, 2. Tommy won kaucls down from three others presumably better animals. TnoTTiNG Match. Ist prize, £3 ; 2nd, £I.—Mr. Leslie's Lucy, 1 ; Mr. McMillan's Joe, 2. Two others ran. In the evening, a dance, interspers-el with some capital songs, completed the amusements of the day.—[Communicated, December 28.] WHANGAROA. RACES. The Whangaroa and Kaeo Jockey Club races took place on Friday, the 23rd December. The weather was all that could be desired, and the course was numerously thronged with pleasure-seekers. The usual racecourse games were strictly prohibited, and oar local constable disappointed several of the sharp-witted fraternity, who had come from Auckland in the hope of earning a few shillings. All the races were very well contested, and reflected great credit, and showed much judgment on the part of the haudieappers and starter, and all present appeared -thoroughly satisfied with the'! manner in which the day's programme was carried out. Maiden Hurdle Race, of lOsovs.; H miles. Weight for age. — Mr. Ha3 - es' Amateur, 1; Mr. \V. Goulton's Border Chief, 2 ; Mr. Hayes' Princess, 3. Mr. J. Berghan's Merry Lass also ran. Merry Lass took the lead, and fell at the first hurdle. The remaining three jumped well for a mile, when Border Chief showed an ugly temper, and refused to go. Princess fell at the last hurdle, and Amateur took the lead, and won by four lengths. Maiden Pute, of losovs. lmile. Weight for age.—Mr. W. Goulton's Border Chief, 1 ; Mr. Davidson's Ravensworth, 2 ; Mr. Hayes' Amateur, 3. Mr. Thomas's Creamy, Mr. Cole's Bobtail, Mr. George Penny's Catch'm-if-you-can also ran. This was a splendid race. Catch'm-if-you-can (a small... pony) jumped off with the lead, closely followed by the remainder past the stand. Ravensworth then took up the running, with Border Chief in close attendance. In coming into the straight, the Chief had a slight advantage, and won a good race by a nose. IvaiiO Ccp Handicap, of 35sovs. 2 miles. —Mr. Hayes' Derby, 9st. 21bs., 1 ; Mr. GofFs Worm, 9st. Slbs., 2; Mr. Parker's Young Ratan, Sst. 31bs., 3. This was the race of the day. The horses went away with a splendid start, Derby having a slight advantage, and a sheet would have covered the three the whole distance. Derby eventually won by a short length. The judge could hardly separate the other two. The winner was loudly cheered after his victory. Selling Hack Race of -10sovs. 1J miles. Top weight, 9st.—Mr. Thomas' Creamy, 1 ; Mr. Penny's Cocky, 2; Mr. Hayes' Chester, 3. Mr. Sever's Yatterina, and Mr. fatterson's Midnight also ran. Creamy won after a hard contested race, and was bought in for £2S. Bushman's Purse Handicap of losovs. I mile. For horses, the property of settlers in Mangonui County. — Mr. Davidson's Ravensworth, 7st*. 61' is., 1 ; Mr. Hayes' Derby, lOst. Gibs., 2 ; Mr. Hayes' Princess, Sat., 3. Mr. Berghan's Kotiro, and Mr. Penny's Primate also ran. They all got away to a good start. Primate and Kotiro bolting at the first turn, the others kept together until coming into the straight, when Ravensworth took the lead, and won a good race by a length ; the same distance dividing the second and third. M .torn Rack. Ist prize, a saddle ; 2nd, a bridle.—Five horses ran, and after a really splendid race, resulted in a dead heat between Tahiti and White Child. In the run off White Child won caaity. Lames' Purse Handicap of losovs. li miles.—Mr. Goffs Worm, 9st. 31bs., 1 ; Mr" Hayes'Derby, 9st. 131b5., 2; Mr. Parker's Young Ratan, Sst. 41bs., 3. Mr. Penny's Primate, 7st. lOibs., also ran. The horses got off to a good start, Worm leading, Derby and Ratan on his quarters. This position was kept until coming into the straight, when Derby had a slight advantage, but Worm, putting on a splendid spurt, won a hard-run race by half•α-head. Consolation Handicap.—Mr. Berghan's Kotiro, Sst. 41bs., 1 ; Mr. Penny's Cateh'm-if-you-can, 6st. 41bs., 2 ; Mr. Hayes' Princess, 7st. lOlbs., 3. Mr. Penny's Primate also ran. Kotero took the lead, and was never caught, winning easily. This finished the most successful meeting the Whangaroa and Kaeo Jockey Club have had.—[Own Correspondent, December 27.] POROTI (WHANGAREI) RACES. Pokoti, a splendidly situated and richly favoured native settlement, nestling as it does like a rose amidst thorns; the rose being formed by the picturesque beauty of forest and landscape, and the fertility of the soil; the thorns represented in a lively manner by the almost barren clay hills or ranges which lie due east, forming the dividing boundary between Poroti and Wainui on the south-east, and Whangarei on the north-oast; and towards the north, a lofty chain of mountains from Mangakahia to Wairoa, thus completely encircling Poroti, which can be either called an extended plain or an enlarged valley. This was the scene of the annual race meeting. The first of the Auckland district race meetings this season

robably—and the second of Poroti, which ,as held on the Maori course. The first race meeting inaugurated and arried through last year was under purely laori auspices, but the present one was nitiated and successfully piloted by a committee, half European and half Maori, in a tyle creditable to both races, with one exeptiou, to which I shall refer further on. lie success of the gathering as regards the mount subscribed, good management, ■orreet etiquette of the turf, and impartiality, is largely due to the efforts >f a few local residents, prominent amongst viiom are Messrs. J. B. Ross, Jno. \\. \lcKay, C. Waetford, and S. Rawesley. Che day was glorious, tlie sun shining with)iit a cloud to mar its brilliancy, with just a icphyr to cool the almost torrid heat. The •oad from Whangarei (from which place arj'O numbers of spectators came as well as ■torn Wairoa, and many of the Northern settlements) is one of the prettiest in the jcautiful North. At sunset the whole ot Maoridom of this and surrounding villages was stirring. The men were in gala dress busily canvassing the real merits ot the local horses, and their bete noire the " Hoi ho j Pakeha' : (with a view to making a book), numbers of which were arriving, and passing through the village as eariy as 0 a.m.; and the women arranged in every hue and colour of the rainbow, and dressed not quite a Iα mode to please Worth, but still in " Kakahu pai," as our brown sisters have it. The course is of light volcanic soil, the fern on which had lately been burnt off. From the galloping of the horses, the European's faces and hands were soon lik-3 their Maori brothers, dusky, dusty, and "racy of the soil." Altogether there must have been 700 persons, including Maoris and Europeans, on the course, amongst whom were some few white and comely half-caste ladies. Punctually at 12 o'clock the members of the following committee of stewards took their posts :—Messrs. John W. McKay, C. Waetford, J. B. Ross, Touu Kingi, Patia, Henare Panaho, Hcmi Hohera. Judge, Mr. Hempeustall; clerk of the scales, Mr. J. B. Pi,oss ; starter, Mr. John W. McKay ; clerk of the course, Mr. Charles Waetford. When the bell rang for the first event :— Pokoti Hurdle Race, of £S. li miles distance, over 9 flights of hurdles 3ft. 6in. high. For all horses that never won a race of 12sovs. Nominations, 10s ; entrance, 10i. list. up.—The following horses started : Mr. J. Pollock's Cook Robin, Mr. Jenkins' Lalla, Mr. J. W. McKay's Native (owner),, Mr. Tonu Kingi's Carry Beef, Mr. Clothworthy's Go-Ahead (ovrner), Mr. J. Stephenson's Play Boy (Fred North). The whole, after the usual baulks, got away to a good start, Mr. Clothworthy's Go-Ahead leading, closely followed by Play Boy, Lalla, Carry Beef, and Cock Robin. Coming up to the first hurdle Go-Ahead was ahead, but on crossing it both horse and rider got a spill, with not, however, much damage to either. There were several spills, horses and riders tumbling over each other like as in the fray of battle. There was one plucky' rescue, whereby the rider of Playboy, Fred. North (the Archer of the North), who wes coining well up to win, when Go-Ahead's rider came to grief, and North pluekily and generously threw up his chance of winning; jumped off his horse, although at full gallop, rescued Clothworthy, caught his horse, Playboy, and re-mounted, coming in a good third. Cloth- ! worthy had two tumbles on Go-Ahead, and j Cock Robin threw his rider at the judge's stand, once rolling over him. Pollock, however, gallantly picked himself up, and at the finish the horses were placed thus:—Cock Robin, 1 ; Native, 2; Mr. Step'-ienson's .Playboy, 3. SCKATCH HURDLE RACE, lOsCVS. 1} miles. Twice round the course. Nomination, 5^V ; -'entrance, 10s.—Mr. F. North'c Prince (owner), 1 ; Mr. S. Counygham's Highflyer, 2. This was a well-contested race, and the riding, though not all one might expect, was still very creditable, there being an absence of spills, and there was, as there ever is in country races, a genuine trial of speed and jumping power between the horses. Maiden Plate of 7sovs. li miles. Nomination, 10s ; entrance, ss.—Mr. C. Waetford's Julia, 9st. 41bs., 1 ; Mr. C. Waetford's McLeod, 2; Mr. Timo's Poroaheretia, 9st. 71bs., 0. This was a neat race, and it .caused considerable excitement to the Maoris, who were interested more in it than in the former ones, as the owners were all related to them. Pokoti Plate of lOsovs. 2 miles. Uniform weight, list. Nomination, 10s; entrance, 10s. Second horse to save his entrance, —Mr. J. Pollock's Cock Robin, syrs., 1 : Mr. AY. Woolley's Stella, aged, 2; Mr, Cosell's The Hack, 0 ; Mr. Rotohiko's Stock ing, 0 ; Mr. Touu Kiagi's Carry Beef, 4yrs.. 0 ; Mr. Walter Emerson's Waitaki, 0. This was a splendid race, every horse and jocke} straining to the utmost to go to the front and keep it. A sheet would have covered the whole at the end. Maori Race of Csovs. 1 mile. 3 heats. Catch weights.—Mr. Pericocki's Deceiver, 1 ; Mr. S'hortland's Tipo No. 1, 2; Mr Daniel's Stephen No. 2, 0 ; Mr. Rotohiko'i Tamate, 0; Mr. Waetford's Julia, 0; Mr Timo's Poroaheretia, 0; Mr. Timo's Tamaia, 0 This was a grand stretch, and the impetu osity of the horse equalled only the zeal o the rider. The first heat resulted thus Tipo, 1 ; Tamate, 2. In the second heat Tipo was first and Julia second. Scratch M vtch Pony Race. 3 entries 1 mile. Mr. W. Dent's Fly-by-night, Mr Jenkins' Minnie, Mr. Perecocki's Deceiver Fuller on Fly-by-i,ught made the running and showed much 'judgment and skill, but the superior points' of Perecocki's Deceive: enabled him to triumph. The record wa thus : Perecocki's Eeceiver, 1 ; Fly-by-night 2. Wairoa Plate. — Nomination, 10s ; en trance, 10s; £9; 2 miles; 11 stone up Mr. John Dent's Tuna, 1 ; Mr. Taurau'i (Maori Magistrate) Wharetana, 2 ; Mr Pollock's Cock Robin, 3. Mr. Emerson , ! Waitaki also ran. Taurau's Wharetana tool the lead, and kept up to first half mile. H( was then passed by Tuna and Cock Robin ii: rapid succession, Through the gross mis conduct of a person named Walter Emerson, owner of Waitaki (from Wairoa) -who, with out having weighed, started out, .w repeatedly jostled and crossed Dent's horse Tuna, crossing four times, Tuna was de prived of fair play, aud narrowly escapet serious injuries, and lost his chance of winning On passing the judge's stand, the following was the position : Cock Robin, 1 ; Tuna, 2; Wharetana, 3. Stella was scratched. A protest was entered against Cock Robin upon the ground of Emerson's jostliug. The protest was not sustained as against Cocl; Robin. Consolation Stakes of osovs. milt For all beaten horses.—Mr. Tonu Kingi Carry-beef, 1 ; Mr. W. Woolley's Stella, 2: Mr. Hamuera's Tamaihia, 3. Stella won in a canter. Hurry Skurry.— Mr. W. Dent's Dor Juan, 1 ; Mr. Evans' Akc-ake, 2. This concluded the day's sports, and the Poroti Races for ISSI. I cannot refraii from remarking upon the general good conduet and kindly feeling shown by each racer to the other, and to the almost entire absence of drunkenness. In the case of the man, Walter Emerson, the stewards, after fully hearing everything pro and con., decided to disqualify him for five years from racing on the Poroti course, and also his horse, Waitaki, for a like period. They also decided to communicate this judgment to all the racing clubs in the district. Le Grois.