OUR RACES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 610, 27 January 1879, Page 2

OUR RACES.

" Coming events cast their shadow before." j It will probably interest your sporting readers to learn, through these columns, something about the horses which are' to compete for the stakes at our Annual Race Meeting. For the Maiden Plate a number of horses of all shapes and sizes are entered, but it would be hard to say, " which is which." The old ones are, at best, but middling, and the youngsters are but so, so, at any rate, to look at, except Joe Leonard and Bosworth. The list of acceptances for the Turanga Handicap shows only four names, but or all that I expect to see a fairly goodf race. There would seem to be a very strong feeling in favor of Pinfire. He is a strong favorite, in fact the odds in his favor are from 10 or 12 to 1 ; but from the fact of his owner not thinking him safe to trust for the Wellington Cup, it is just possible that Pinfire's merits are rather over-rated. That this horse won very handsomely in Auckland, dos'nt go for much, for as a rule the horses in that sporting country are not at all first- I class. Pinfire is a chesnut, rather leggy, shows a good deal of going quality about the thighs, hocks and legs all round ; but upon the whole, although a good looking up-standing nag enough, I don't think a very great deal of him. As he has to travel in very second-rate company, the weight he carries is just about enough to keep him in sight. Pinfire's stable companion Bepo — is a very racey-looking mare — young, 3 years, and all over a very promising animal. She has not yet done anything to boast of, but that counts for little or nothing, as three-year olds, particularly mares, are very apt indeed to get out of sorts, at most unseasonable moments. However, she does her owner great credit as far as appearance goes and will, I make no doubt be heard of some day in the front ranks. Her owner complains that she is heavily handicapped, but he is wrong there, for the mare is quite as well up to her weight as Pinfire is to his, the only question is which of the two has the best foot and most stamina. Little Songster — is a first rate raceyhorse, as good a bit of stuff for his size as I have seen — but he has a big weight to lift and his ohances are rather small, still as he is thoroughly game and honest if he is brought out fit, and ridden properly he ought to show up fairly at the finish. The Tradesmen's Handicap promises a very exciting race. The above horses areinit, and our old friend West End is to