THE WELLINGTON RACES.

Southland Times, Issue 3318, 7 February 1879, Page 2

THE WELLINGTON RACES.

(Br PEE SPECIAL ■ - j: ;;\4 ;• ;,/.;^|wieb.)/' ■ ; ■'■\./ ;| " ,i VtBL^INGTON. 'Thubsday. ■"Is %|§#^S^ races b egan to-day, and the dajesCpjooefedings commenced with the Maiden Plate, for which Merlin was installed a hot favorite ; Undine was next in demand. The^^ult,w^.jin,ea^w.ia^foji,thevson of Blueboyand~ Malice. ,—»-.-... A Hack Hurdle Race, which, created great excitement, was jthe next event, and was cleverly carried off l>y Poririia, Kate, the favorite, coming to grief, at the third hurdle was still a favorite; at; 5 -Jito 2; and Lara, who stripped in good form, was backed by many • .whilst ;Longlands. who was in great fettle, started, second favorite*; The up-cquntiy contingent went ■-<;. like due man;, for Lara and Diver, whilst the MarlborougE'people supported. Eata., After .the first mile- and ; a half, ■ the result was never jn "doubt, and ftay won very easily at the finish, \l The following are the events:— Maiden Plate 75 soys, 1 mile;and:ahalf. R. Variance's Merlin, 3yrs.7st 131 b (Nplen) King Quail, 3yrs, 7st 131 b (Cairirio-ton) 2 Webb's Undine, 4yrs, Bst i2ib:(Fuller) 3 Knight's Roebuck, Murtagh's Black Prince, and Lady Grey also ran><>: •=:■ -; ;.• .- ... The flag fell to a fair start,; Undine having a trifle the best-of it. Murtagh^oon rattled his horse into first place, which he ; kept until he reached tjie. back of the course. Lady Grey was at least 10 lengthsbehind when opposite the grandstand.;. Roebuck was Black Prince's attendant, but aitlie | mile post King Quail ran'; into' second pliaoe ; Undine third, Merlin fourth. Thiis order was maintained; till at the baejcpf the course, when Black Prince fell back, beaten. ".-.Undine and Merlin then closed .pnrßatpatcher,; and a pretty, race was run until the, entry -into the straight.-- Here Nolen made a fine exhibition of horsemanship, and topkithe inside runnino-, -and a lead of about half a length, and won a close race,; King Quail being- only beaten by a-head.. - Time, 2 mm. 50 sec; Hurdle' Race of 50 sots., 2 miles, weight for age; over 7 hurdles. Butler's Agent, 5 yrs;9st Tibs (Hawkins) 1 Harkaway, 6 yrs, 9st 10ft>s (Murtagh) 2 Te Whetu,agedj9st-lblbß (O'Brien) ... 3 Nothing else.ltarted. Te Wheta was th first away, bufc;waspollaredv'by. Harkaway a* the second hurdle. .'■ He, however, the lead, close pressed by t|ie Agent, and won ariecfcaud'neck race by haif : a length Time 4min. 29sec. \ handicap Hurdle Race. Seven started.; .Lpchlpmpnd was a great favorite, but casualties commenced at the ; first junlp.'wh^nfone fell.; At?,the second two ;more ; at thircl the favorite hit hard and '>.atne downy. th'en-Pbrirua. Kate drew away and won by. half a length from Black Warrior. ' Forest Queen ran into a post and bruised :her, rider,- and was third.; This jockey was the f only .one re^^'h^urt. Z: _.~ ./:.].. r . . ' The next event was r The .Cup, value 100 soys., wijfch 500 added ; ' ' second 'horse to 'receive 50 soys." fr^m ... .stakes. ,.:, ;.=,.,. _. _. }, ■:... : ,:. 1 ,.. . .. ■-, : ';./. li. Ray's Mariiana, . age<^ ; '9st 4lb^ inclftdinglOlb penalty -'...' ... (Ray) , : D. Knight's Lara, aged,; Bst 21b -;.;(Wattie) 2 G. Fraser's Longlands, 4 yie^'j ,7st, 121 b ... _.:....,•: „...,.>. .//....(biifford) .. Laertes, Rata, Diver, ; Ladjr Grey, King "Quail, and Sailor also, ran.'^anebury . aud Mufti were scratched. '- '-k.'ylA ■ • The flag fell to a fair start, but Sailor had much the best of it. King Quail was stopped directly after the flag fell. Sailor led to the entrance of the straight, when he bolted, and was not stopped until he h"ad "disposed of his rider. Lara, led . past ';". the stand, with Diver, Longlands, Maritana, Laertes, Rata, .and ;. Lady r Grey, in the-order, named, at the back; of the pourse. Maritiana,~ "who had been running through, herV horses, collared him ; Laertes made his 'efforts at^the threequarter mile post, and .'-fell' ;b'sck beaten. At «a half mile from home the leading ? pair drew aw;ay from all but Longlands," whocame up very' fast ; Ray' then assuinbd -lead* previously held by Lara .on sufferance, and^.won easily by a length^ liongla'nds about two lengths behind . second, and Diver third. Time — 3 mm. 47sec. • Hutt Pabk STAkiis, 50-soks., 1 mile. Ray's Brib'eryj-syi^| ; -9st 61b (Ray) 5 ... 1 Knight' 6 Saunterer,2 yfSj 6s|b 31b(Laing) 2 This race was reduced to a match' between the above pair and Doncaster, theuthers being scratched. The two-year old had rather best of the startj.and, a. pretty rafee ensued at back ..of course, but the colt ruaning.wide,.Ray had the advantage and Bribery won, hands down. .The. colt ran away with his rider and upset him into ' the Waitaki stream j but the boy was more frightened than hurt. v .;.; . , „■ " • The Hack Race was a wretched failure ; 12 entered, but' three never left the paddock, and Grey Tom -got all this i -best of a straggling start, and' won easily Yrofia .Tig£r. r '.' 1 ' The best race'.wias "the 1 Stakes, 50 soys, three-quarters of 'dihile/-'" 1: .'5 Hprsfall's Ratcatcher, 7st 51b ' ('Garitog- ■■ ' v t0n)...-'' : ■■ ..;•; ■•;• -^ „. i Gibsdri's Otawa, 7st 91b (Walker)- 1 " .'.. 2 Belcher's Expectation, 7st6lb'- v; - r i.. 3 Bribery, Sailor, and DPncaster also ran. Otawa was fractious at the post, and disposed of her jockey, at once.;. Sailor got a big lead, but Ratcatcher ran through : all his horses, and won easily. .''."' " ' ,' %