TUAPEKA RACES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2798, 25 January 1871, Page 3

TUAPEKA RACES.

(FROM ptJB OWN COJaBESPOKDBKT.)

The annual Tacea of the Tuapeka; Jockey Club came off on Thursday and! Friday, the 19th and 20th January. The* course is on Goal-pit Flat, about half a | mile front Lawrence, and is well situated: for visitors, haying a. commanding view,' the hill behind the grand stand affording ample room for some thousands of spectators. The course is of an oblong ah&pe, and about |ths of a mile, in length, and certainly the Stewards of the Club have to congratulate themselves on having it in fair order, the weather prepeding the meeting paving put it, iri^good trim, showing a very; marked contrast to the abundance of mud ;which characterised it last year. From early morning, the township presented a bustling appearance. Numbers of persons in holiday attire were continually arriving-from every point of fche compass. Cabs and expresses were busily employed conveying passengers, while the equestrian part of the population turned out in, grand, force.. It was about 2 p.m. before the first: race was run,, and by that time both the hill behind the stand, and the stand itself, were'respectably.filled up. The usual concomitants of a race course were there. There were three,booths, No. Iby Donovan of the Shamrock) No. 2by Tanton, and No. 3 by Chalmers. Half Way House. There were also one or two tea and coffee booths, and number of fruit and toy stands, while the "nuts for your money, and sport for nothing" line of business was very ably represented. The grand stand was constructed of iron and roofed over. The saddling paddock was also fenced with, iron, and in the rear of the stand, but was of - such limit ed proportions, that owners preferred saddling outside. This arrangement was certainly not very pleasant to the few who paid their halfj crowns, on the faith of having the pleasure of examining the " beauties" after un-! clothing. I trust the Stewards will amend this next year, as it 'was next to impossible to view all the horses, each one while saddling being surrounded by its own crowd of admirers. Mr Lachian Maclean performed ;the duties of judge very satisfactorily. Mr W. Sheath acted as starter, and Mr Nicholson as clerk of the course; Mr ; Hayes performed duty as secretary. The ; weather on the first day was all that could be desired ; on the second, however, the sun came out strong, and the heat was very intense; the course got extremely dry, and during the latter part of the day the dust was most disagreeable. In the Hurdle Race some of the jumps were not easily distinguished from the clouds of dust blowing about. Two or three accidents occurred; In the Maiden run, Young Pearson was deposited on the ground by Saladin, and suffered a broken collar bone; and in the Hurdle Race both Robinson and M'Kay got severe bursters. In the Flying Handicap also, through the stupidity of some persons endeavouring to cross the course, Catapult was driven amongst the crowd, upsetting a number, and nearly breaking his own and his rider's neck. It was surprising that so few accidents happened, seeing the reckless way equestrians ware allowed to gallop at any time and on any part of the course. I believe a subscription was raiaed for Pearson,

amounting to the creditable sum of L22 10s, and I am glad to learn he is progressing favourably. The races on the whole were satisfactory and well contested, with the exception of the Town Plate, which was a gift for Backbiter, Bedouin only coming to post to save a walk over. Much interest was manifested in the Maiden Plate, Saladin and Banker being favoured; the former, however, threw his chance away, If he had any, by bolting. The knowing ones were much surprised when Cotton rushed his pony Gentle Annie to the front, and came in easy winner. A protest was entered against the mare, she being entered aa fire years old, and was said to be six, which was, I understand, sustained. :

For the District Handicap, Backbiter ! waa tbe favourite, although Ducheas had some fanciers, and Foretop was admired. The old horse, however, fulfilled expectations and won easily. For the Trot, Ja very medley lot were brought out. First, was old Tapioca with a buggy'behind him, evidently too much for him to do ; aft^r him Joe Cope, who trotted very honestly but not fast enough. Next were King, Rattler, Dick, and Tigress, all going well. After this crowd came Straggler, who showed a very curious style of going. While the forelegs were doing a very fair trot, the hind quarters were at a canter; and I am sure had this horse had aniy chance of the race, it would have been a hard question to decide as to whether he trotted or cantered. Next was placed old Banger with a start of 225 yards against Magic. This old favourite werit well and won easily. Magic did not seem to get away so well as usual, anfr did not get near Ranger until the fiftji round; (which was one too many])" when he got, within six .lengths, opposite the post. The Hack Selling Race finished the day, Princess Flora proving a very game little mare, and too much for her opponent, Wild Harry. {

Maiden Pl/lte, 35 bovb. Distance, two . miles. Weight forage^: , r: '■ Mr Cotton's b m Gentle Annie (late Pet), ! 9st9lb ■..- ... ' :;.::■ (Cottoi) 1 Mr Langley's b g Sir Charles, lOst lib

"'■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■ ■■ - (Smith) 2 Mr Bradley's br g Banker, lOst lib !

(O'Brien) 3 Mr Pollock's b m Young Lady of the I Lake, 9st 21b (Kelly) 0 Mr Walker's br g Tomboy, lOst lib [

; ■..-.:; ■•••■. v'.xx^--: "■;.:::■:. \ (NfKay) 0 Mr Pillans's br g Saladin, 7afc 31b (Pearson) '- 0 "After twot^Be:Btl£^;'tb^.T6t~'got'''well away together, Saladin sligHtly iv advance uptfi he bolted at'{She distance, throwing Ms rider, Pearson. Banker and Sir Charles then made a rush away together! both going well, and leaving the ruck until the quarter distance,, when Gentle Annie crept gradually through the \<A\ passing Sir Charles and Banker,, and winning easily! Sir Charles a good seconds "Tiine,'.3miri". jßsqc.!'"." A protest was entered against the mare, and sus-^ tamed, she proving a sixryear-oldi . i District Handicap, 80 soys, with a Sweep--stake of 2 guineas each. Distance, two . : miles. .•: -. . ....:.,. " - ';;■■ '>■ -; r .. ' Mr Prince's blk g Backbiter, 9st 101b : ((iobdyer) 1 Mr Pritcbard's oh h Poretop, 9at ... ? - > (Goodman) 2 MjCt. Wiffiams's br m pnchesß,-Bst - ... \ (Cotton) 3 Mr Lefewe's eh' g Kger, 7sfe 81b i :- (XUohards) G Mr.(&. Cpbmbes'sb gCataptai7sti 101b... I ■■.::; :"-"■::..:.:...; .'., .„: ...,..".. " (mmy o Mr J. Williams's oh g Banjo, Sat 61b ... (Thorpe) 0, MrStanton'sbgWildbdyj 9at 61b ... , ■•■■'■•-■•.■ (Sfenton) 0 Mr Pillans'fl br h Bedotnn,7st 41b (Craig) O!. Tiger jumped off with the lead, attended!, by Duchess and Catapulti—Backbiter lyingj 1 behind. In the second round, however, the black horsei, gradually crept up, and, half-a-mile from home, took the lead and1 won easily! Foretpp, under the whip, making a good second. Handicap Tbotting Race, 30 soys; distance, three miles: no weight under lOstlllb. Mr Pollock's Banger, 225 yards (Pollock) 1 Mr Smith's Rattler, 350 yards...(Hewitt) 2 Mr Lefavre's Tigress, 350 yards (Eichards) 3 ■ Mr Williams's Magic, scratch...(Wflliams) 0 Mr Carson's Dick (sulky), 350 yards V. . ~; (Thorpe) 0 Mr Bradley's King, 350 yds.; (Bradley) 0 Mr Carlaw's Joe Cojie, 375 yds, (Gordon) 0 Mr Langley's Tapioca (buggy), 450 yds, ■-;:=■■■/ ■■■■;. ■ '■;.- ;■ .■:".;■"■. .* *. : -.' ;---'(Langley) '"'0 Mr Pollock's Straggler, 275 yds, (Pollock) palled up Tapioca started off well, going strong, but was quickly collared, the buggy proving too much. Magic was much favoured, but did not Beem to get away well; in fact, he gained very little until the fourth round, when he had warmed to his work. The third round Ranger went to the front,; and kept the lead' all the way, going an extra round, which Magic and some of the others also did; Old Banger kept his ground well, and landed , lan easy winner. Battler was well ridden j by Hewitt, and made a good second.

Hack Selling Race, 20 soys. 1 mile heats. Mr Prince's chm Flora (Richards) Oil MrM'Leaa's eh g Wild Harry, (M'Lean) 12 2 Mr Braaley'iflbrg Banker, (O'Brien) 0 0 0 In the first heat Flora bolted, and a protest was entered, on the ground that the mare was distanced, but was not sustained. In the second heat the two chestnuts raced neck and neck to the ■; distance, when the mare slightly forged ahead, landing about half a length in ! front of the horse. The third heat was run in the same way, Flora coming in a game first. .-..,.,., One or two private matches were also ran, but there was nothing to cause any exsitement. Second Day. ; Friday msrning broke beautifully fine, the heat being intense, and the course very dry and dusty. A lot of time was 'wasted in getting off the first race, and it was two o'clock before a start was made, when Beven came to the post for the Pdblican's Handicap of 30 soys. Distance 1 mile. Mr Prince's r g Stackpole, Bst (Richards) 1 Mr Gk "Williams's br m Star of the South, Bst2lbs ... ... ... (Hill) 2 Mr J. Williams'a eh g BaD jo, Bst (Cotton) 3 Mr Stanton'a blk m Little Nell, Bst 21bs (Gillam) 0 Mr Pollock's blk g Raven, 7st 71bs (Craig) 0 Mr Robinson's eh g Lyndon, 9afc (Robinson) 0 Mr Coombe'a b g Catatpult, Bsfc 21b (Allan) 0 Mr Cotton's bg Cuts-Who-Gero, 6st 121b (Malone) .0 A false start was made. Raven and Lyndon leading off attended by Cuts-who-Gero and Catapult, Stackpole going half way round. Raven and Lyndon made it a neck and neck affair, this spoiling their chance to run again. After all pulled up, a great deal of talk ensued as to whether the race should be run at once or postponed till next day. It was decided, however, to run at once, after allowing a half-hour's spell. At 3 p.m. another start was effected, Banjo leading with a rush half way round, when he waa collared by; Stackpole and Star of the South ; a good race ensued, Stackpole winning by a length, and a half. Time., Imia. 53aecs.