THE RACES!!!
The Maiden Meeting of the Auckland Races, came off on Wednesday last on the Epsom downs, and we have much pleasure in stating that they . were well and fashionably attended, there was a tolerable sprinkling df cattle on the course. Amongst the elite we observed His Excellency the Governor, and suite, the Colonial Secretary Dr. Gammie, Lieutenants Best and Smart, &c, &c. The following horses were entered for the Town Tlate, and certainly reflects great credit to their owners, and augurs well for the advancement of -the sporting world in New Zealand. Dr. Gammie, b. m. Haidee, 3 years, W. 8., scand w. sieves, and b. cap. Lieut. Smart, ch. g. Chance , aged, 81.. b. and w.cap. Mr. Brewer’s b. m. Kitty , 5 years, Pink and cap. Mr. Wood’s b. g. Bobby , 6 years, Pink and w. cap. Mr Paton’s ch. g. New Zealander , 5 years, Puce . • Cr. sleeves and w. cap.
The competition for this race was between Haidee and Bobby, it was a close push for the Ist heat; the second heat Haidee won easily. The next was for the Valparaiso Stakes. Miss Starch, 81. b. and w, cap. Don Raphael, W. B. cr. and w. sleeves bl. cap. Mavourneen, gr. jacket and cr. cap. Cruisokin . This race was easily won by Miss Starch. THE SECOND DAY. Again there was a good muster of bipeds and quadrupeds seen wending their way towards the Race Course, to view M the sports of the day.” About one o’clock the bugle sounded for saddling for the Ladies’ Purse, when the following horses appeared as competitors, Dr. Gammie’s Haidee, rode by Rich. Lieut. Smart’s Chance, M'Quillon. One mile heat and a ®Rnce. The first heat was well contested. Chance keeping the lead till within 100 yards of the winning post, when Haidee made a ; brush lor it, and gained the gaol with ease. Considerable bets were made on the second heat; many backing Chance, as it was expected Haidee had done her work, but it proved a case of loosened purse strings to the backers of Chance, as he was nearly distanced, thereby giving Haidee the race in her own hands. The next Race on the list, was the Handicap Stakes, Two mile heats, and a distance. The candidates for the Stakes were as follows, viz. Haidee, rode by Young. New Zealander, rode by Burton. Miss Starch, rode by D‘Moulin, There was no mistake about this race. Haidee took the lead, closely tracked by New Zealander , and at a respectful distance might be observed Mm Starch, doing her best. Haidee and New Zealander keeping the same position until they were a few yards from the distanee post, when it was, Who should have the race ? They keep close at it. New Zealander gaining on Haidee, till within fifty yards of the winning post, when from some accident, (we believe through the military, who were allowed to stand on the outside of the course, waving their caps and shouting, just as New Zealander was opposite them,) New Zealander made a bolt, and in doing so, startled Haidee , when unfortunate to record, they both spilled their riders, leaving the race in the hands of Miss Starch. The last, not least, was the race for the beaten horses’ stakes ; this was contested for by New Zealander, rode by Burton Bobby, rode by Storey. Kitty, rode by De Moulin. Half-mile heats and a distance Many heavy bets were laid on this race. First Heat. Bobby and New Zealander kept close at it round the course, the latter keeping just behind the former, until they arrived opposile the distance post, when New Zealander shot a-head, and eventually past Bobby like lightning o’er the sea. Second Heat. Betting—Odds given in fayour of the native horse. Off they started in beautiful style, Bobby and ; New Zealander, as in the last heat, keeping close company with Kitty in their wake a long way, when about 40 yards from the distance post, it was the two former for it, when just within a few yards of the winning post, they both had a spill, Bobby bidding us adieu for the day, went home for, as we suppose, some “ ki ki New Zealander flew off to the outside of the course. Kitty came up, and jnst as she had passed the fallen knights, her lider pulls her head round. New Zealander's rider rights in his saddle again, comes on the course a little below where he went oflf, passes Kitty, and wins the heat to the utter astonishment of the bystanders, and we have no doubt, much to the chagrin of Kitty's rider. A. dispute arose as to the validity of this heat» which occasioned another, when New Zealander cantered round the course after Kitty till within a few yards of the winning post, when the formdr shewed Kitty the way home, and won the race. A dinner, as on the form* r day, was provided for the sporting world by the “ Boniface »’ of the Royal Hotel, which was well attended. Much credit is due the worthy host for the manner in which the dinner was got up, every thing being in a most sumptuous style, and also for the quality of the wines broached on the occasion.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette, Volume I, Issue 41, 8 January 1842, Page 3
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878THE RACES!!! New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette, Volume I, Issue 41, 8 January 1842, Page 3
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