TUAPEKA ANNUAL RACES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1161, 28 February 1874, Page 4

TUAPEKA ANNUAL RACES.

The attendance at our annual meet was smaller than I have seen for several years. The only way that I can account for it is that the settlers are very busy with their harvest. The^ fair sex and children were well represented. Tliere were not so many people on the lull at the rear of the stand as formerly. All the usual small swindles were too well represented, in fact, one very sharp individual had a coadjutor standing on a table looking out for the police, while he did the under seven business. They were well watched, but they were too knowing to ac caught. Fruit of all descriptions was in abundance. To-day the attendance was estimated at 800. The hill at the back of the stand was well covered with people. The booths appeared to be doing a good trade. The Good Templars had a booth, which seemed to be the centre of attraction for the ladies. The grand stand was not well patronised.

The sports commenced with the usual Maides Plate, 30 soys. Distance, \\ mile. Weight

for age. Sinclair's b g Young Leamington, aged .. (ky» cn ) \ Webb's bm Miss King filly, 3; years .. (Hughes) 3 Reaney's b m Nelly King, 3 years.. (J. Malone) i Young Leamington was first on his pins, closely followed by Nelly King; Miss King whip-per-in, hard held. On the run up the straight the filly took second place. On rounding the CoalPit the filly ran up to the old horse and kept him company until crossing the Recreation Ground, when Leamington was let out and bid the filly goodbye, aud came home ao easy winner by six lengths. Betting was 3 to 2 against Young Leamington, even against Miss Kiug filly, 2 to 3 against Nelly Lawu'exck Handicap. 70 soys. Distance, one mile

and a half. J. Ward's b g Tambourini, 5 yrs, 9st. 101b. W. C.'Webb's eh g Ada Colt, 3 yrs, 7st. Gib. (Hughes) 2 C. Water's b m Verbena, 3 yrs, 7st. . . (J. Malone) 3 J. Cotton's b g Wildboy, aged, 7st. 101b, (T. Cotton) 0

After passing the judge the first time. Tarn immediately passed Wildboy, and on rounding the Coal Pit rushed through, and took the lead. On descending the hill, the Colt was suffered to come up to Tarn's quarters ; on crossing the Recreation Ground, he increased his lengths, and maintained that position to the finish, Verbena labouring twelve lengths behind. The pace being altogether too hot for Wildboy, was pulled up. The bettiug was 2 to 1 on Tarn, even against Ada Colt, 3 to 2 against Verbena, and 2 to 1 against Wildboy. DisTiucr Handicm 1 , 25 so vs. Twice round the course. T. Dwyor's eh m Sultana, 7st (jibs . . (Mon.ighanl 1 Sinclair's b g Young Leamington, G.st Gib (T. Cotton) 2 . W. Qiun's blk g Raven ('{my) »l H. Telford's b g German Louis . . . . (J. Malone) 0 The Novice was scratched. F Sultana got about four lengths of a start, but the German was soon after the mare; Haven last. In the run up the straight the mare was allowed to approach within a length; and where they turn off to the saddling paddock, about eight lengths from the finish, Gorman Louis rushed off the course, and stopped tit the door of the paddock, thus losing all chance, and letting the mare have it her own way to the finish. Flying Handicap. 40 soys. 1 mile. P. Mason's eh g Colour Sergeant, aged, 6st 101b . . 1 J. Cotton's b g Wildboy, aged, 7s l lolb (T Cotton) 2 C. Water's b«[ Patch, Bf?ed, 7st .. (J. Malone) 3 Malabar, Miss King Filly, and Ada Colt were scrtitcliGcl. A fter one false start, Colour Sergeant showed the way, attended by Patch, Wildboy taking it easy. Ou rounding the Coal Pit, the Sergeant increased his lead to 10 lengths. Wildboy passed Patch going up the hill, but never got within 12 lengths ®f the bold Sergeant, and finishing badly 12 lengths in the rear ; Patch about the same distance behind the Boy. Hospital Race- -£l7 13s 6d— was won by T. Dwyor's Raven, beating three others— finished the first day's sport. SECOND DAY. The weather was all that could be wished for. The booths and stalls seemed to be doing .i roaring trade. The first event to-day was the Handicap Hurdle Race, which brought out three competitors. The race was run in heats. J. Wright's gg Musician, aged, list (T. Mackay) 1 3 2 J. Ward's chg Swaggerer, ogd, lOst 41b(Laverty Ist heat ; D. O'Brien 2nd and 3rd he.it) ..211 W. Quin's bg Rambler, aged, lOst 41b (Lang) .320 Swaggerer was first to show in front, with old grey close up. The lot got over the first hurdle all right. At the second hurdle, Rambler refused to negotiate, and before he could be got back and over, the two were a quarter of a mile in advance. They all took the hurdles in grand form. Dan O'Brien piloted the Swaggerer the remaining heats, Laverty being 2s>t overweight— and passed the Stand two lengths ahead of Rambler. Rounding the Coal Pit, the two ran neck and neck, and jumped the three and four hurdles in that order, Swaggerer defeating Rambler the last four lengths by a neck— a splendid race. 3rd he.it— Swaggerer ran away from the old grey and won as he liked. Tuapeka. Jockey Club Handicap. 100 soys. Two mliea. Mr J. Ward's b g Tarabounni, 5 yrs, 103t 01b (O'Brien) 1 Mr J. Ward's eh c Swaggerer, aged, Cat Blb (J. Malone) 2 The Ada colt scratched. Ward declared to win with " Tarn." Mr Maclean started Ward's pair. The young hor3o took the lead at an easy pace, and on rounding the brickyard turn the last time, Swaggerer was permitted to come within a length, Tambourini from that point cantered home, passing the Judge's box 20 lengths in front of the hurdle raco winner. A mistake was then discovered ; the Judge had never taken bis position ; and when he had done so. O'Brien requested him to name his place. The Judge ordered the race to be run again, which resulted as above. Hack Hack. 20 soys. 1 mil© heats. No weight under lOst. 1-ht. 2-ht. H. Telford's Gonnan Louis „ (11. Goodman) 1 1 T. Dwver's Sultana . . . . (Lunge) 2 2 J. Wright's Fairy Queon . . (T. Mackay) 3 8 Sultana was very fractious at the post. At the .word off, Fairy Queen took the lead, and the lot passed the Judgo tLo first time all of a heap. Bounding Coal Pit turn the Fairy finding the pace too fleet, she fell back to the rear, German Louis and Sultana then raced home. Second I "heat, German Louis having the inside running, I

bounded away with the lead, and was never collared, again defeating the mare by a length Publicans' Handicap. 45 soys. 1J mile. W. C. Webb's eh c Ada Colt, 3 yrs, 7st 21b .. (T Cotton} 1 J Wright's eh m Novice, aged, 7st 61b (J- Malone) 2 TTiklboy, Tain, and Malabar, scratched. On the flag being dropped, the Colt dashed away with a lead of a length. On ascendtng the hill, Novice lessened the distance by half a length. The straight was eutered in the order named. The two light-weights then whipped their horse all the way home, but the old mare could never overhaul the Colt, who won by two lengths. Betting : 2to 3 against the Colt, and even on Novice. Consolation Handicap. 25 soys. 1J- mile. Novice, 7st 7ib J Wildboy, 7s t 2 b » Verbena. Bst 121b •■ 3 The first attempt to get away was a false start. Novice galloped nearly a quarter of |a mile before being pulled up. At the second attempt Witdboy showed the way, but was soon passed by Novice— Verbena all behind, not able to gallop. Novice entered the straight six lengths in advance of Boy, and in the run home increased to twelve lengths, winning easily. Verbena was pulled up iv the straight. This finished the Tuapeka Jockey Club Annual Meeting of 1874. Every event went off satis factorily. I have not heard of a single protest, and I have the pleasure to state not a single accident happened during: the meeting.