WAERENGA-A-HIKA RACES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 901, 23 September 1879, Page 2

WAERENGA-A-HIKA RACES.

• The following weights were declared for the undermentioned events : — Birthday Handicap, 2 miles. H. Hickey's Little Wonder, aged 7 6 W. Rodgers' Folly .... ... 7 5 G. Burnand's Queen of H^fcrts ... 8 4 G. Burnand's Merlin, 6 years ... 8 6 C. D. Berry's Zambnla, aged ... 8 2 S. C. Caulton's Harry Mount ... 8 6 W. Bayley's Flatcatcher 7 12 W. Adams' West End 8 8 W. May's Kiddle 7 10 W. May's Flying Beauty... ... 8 0 McDonald's Alicia, 4 years ... 7 0 Handicap Hurdle, 2 miles. W. Rodgers' Awohou, aged ... 9 8 G. Burnand's Queen of Hearts ... 9 10 I>. Page's Day and Martin ... 10 5 S. 0. Caulton's Harry Mount ... 10 31 W. Bayley's Sylvia, 6 years ... 9 0 0. D. Pitt's Skysail, aged ... 10 0 Wiri Ruru's Toheriri 9 0 W. May's Riddle .., ... 9 5 J. Redman's Johnny Trotter ... 8 6

It must be a source of congratulation to the Waerenga-a-hika Jockey Club m obtaining such large entries for the two handicap events to be run at the forthcoming meeting, which we published last evening. We hope that most of the horses entered will come to the post, thereby tending one point to a successful meeting. It was, a short time back, a cause of regret for us to perceive horse racing m the Bay on the decline, instead, as it should be, with such advantages as this fertile district holds over numerous other towns m the Colony, on the flourish. The reason, no doubt, of this decline was the malpractices which were on former occasions allowed to be permitted at Waerenga-a--hika meetings, and so disheartened the public that they turned homewards with disgust pictured on their countenances. We do not wish to bring forward the rights or wrongs of the past, which. have on former occasions been allowed full scope m the Herald, but we decidedly hope that such practices will not on f tirture occasions be tolerated. Sporting, as far as we are aware, was not instituted for the gains of a few of the " sporting fraternity," but promoted for the more numerous concourse of the public. Now, for instance, what interest can a large assemblage of people take m witnessing a horse canter round the course for a walk-over, as turned bat to be the case at our last annual meeting, and also at last Waerenga-a-hika meet, with one of the moat interesting and principal evenfca — the Hurdle race. Unless this state of matters is altered for the better, we cannot predict a successful race meeting. We should like to see every horse run on its merits, which at once would put an end to all disputes and heartburnings, and make the day's racing a pleasure instead of otherwise. We mentioned this latter subject as it is an item to be nipped m the bud, at the same time being fully aware that there is a black sheep m every mob, and we have no hesitation m stating that if horse racing be conducted on the square m future, Poverty Bay will be able to hold her own with other parts of New Zealand more thickly populated.