SPORTING.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 879, 8 February 1879, Page 2

SPORTING.

■WELLINGTON RACES. Wellington, February 7. The weather was all that could bo desired. The attendance was rather smaller than yesterday, and the interest taken in the races was also loss. Wellington Dekby, a sweepstake of lOsovs. each, with 100 sovs. added; half forfeit. Colts, Sst-101b; fillies, Sst 51b. One mile and a half. Mr Vallanco's Merlin, 3 yrs, Sst 101b ... 1 Mr Webb's Dundee, 3 yrs, Sst 101b ... 2 There was some difficulty in getting a good start, Dundee being fractious, and several false starts occurred. At length Merlin got oft' with a big start, Dundee being apparently taken by surprise. On passing the stand the first time Merlin was several lengths ahead, and, about half way round Dundee, put his best foot forward, and an exciting race ensued. Coming into the straight Merlin led by about a, length, Dundee was pressed with whip vigorously, and the run up the straight to the grand stand was very exciting. The fanciers of Dundee thought he could do it, but Merlin clearly had the whip hand of him, and despite all Dundee's efforts, won by an easy neck, being held well in hand all the time. Time—2min. 52secs. Hukijle jlanicap, of 75 sovs. Two miles,

over eight flights of hurdles. Mr R. M'lvor's Grey Momus, aged, 10st

21b 1 Mr P. Butler's Agent, 5 vrs, lOst 41b ... 2 Mr H. Prince's Eversley, aged,. lOst 101b 3 Betting—2 to 1 on Eversley, 6 to 4 on Grey Momus, 4 to 1 on Roebuck. This was a magnificent race from beginning to cud, all the horses jumping beautifully, and at the finish the excitement was intense. The race appeared to all intents and purposes the Agent's, but coining into the straight, the gallant Grey dashed to the front, and notwithstanding the plucky endeavors of The Agent, cleared the last jump at the stand at a filing leap quite two lengths ahead. The Agent just touched in going over, and was pitched on his head. His rider had a narrow escape, but fortunately got clear of the stirrups, and just saved himself from being rolled over by the horse. He was barely on his feet when the horse rolled over, and the upshot was that Grey Monms passed the grand stand before The Agent. The jockey mounted again, and The- Agent took second place. A protest was entered by the owner of Eversley, on the ground that only seven hurdles were jumped instead of eight, as advertised, but it was not entertained. W.K.C, Handicap, of 200 sovs. ; second horse to receive 25 sovs. from the stakes.. li miles. Mr P."Butler's Laertes, 7st 101b ... 1

Mr W. H. Gibson's Otawa, aged, 7st 101b 2 Mr K. Vallance's Lady Ellen, 4 yrs, Cst 121b ... 3 Betting—2 to 1 against Lady Ellen, G to 1 Otawa and Longlands. Great difficulty was experienced in starting, owing to the fractiousness of Bribery, but after several false starts Lara and Bribery went away with the lead, Longlands third, and Otawa fourth, Laertes being unobserved; but before long lie began to go through the horses, and made liis friends jubilant by the style he showed. His backers then became noisy, asking the odds against him. Coming in the straight he led, going in fine form, Lady Ellen and Otawa pressing him closely, but when some few hundred yards from home he shot away three lengths ahead, and Raised the Judge's stand with that lead, with Otawa, second, and short head in front of Lady Ellen. Time, 2min. 56sec. Fkee Handicap, of 50 sovs, Distance, five furlongs, Laertes ... ... j Sauntorer ~-, 2 Sailor 3 Ratcatcher, Lady Ellen, Lady Grey, and Doncaster were scratched. Saunterer and Sailor amused themselves in pushing each other until coming home, when Laertes made a rush and took the lead of between two and three lengths, which, he maintained with ease to the finish, He did. his work in such fine

style that people expressed surprise he was not better up in the race for the Cup. Empire Plate, of 100 sovs. Distance, mile. Expectation ... 1 Lara ... ... ... ... 2 Otawa 3 Eight horses were entered, but Sailor, Black Prince, and Castilia were scratched. A good start was effected, Expectation leading, but soon was collared by Lara, who led by a length and a half for some distance. Expectation- came up before coming into the straight, and it was then seen by the pace he showed that, unless Lara made an effort, he could not fail to be the first to catch the judge's eye. The result was that Expectation came in first, Lara a good second, and Otawa third. Time—3min. 20jsecs.