RULES OF RACING

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1929, Page 5

RULES OF RACING

THE FIRST MAQRI MEETING. On the wall of a cavern recently discovered near Waipiro Flat the writer Caine serosa some hieroglyphics, which, On being interpreted by Pat. Webster, president of the Archaeological Society, proved to be the rules of racing drawn pp by “Long Beer” Waitoitoi te Tommyhawk, and relating to the first race meeting held in the “Land of the Long. White Cloud.” Such a discovery is of paramount importance and, if Pat’s [translation is correct, a copy should be placed in the taproom of the Busted Punters’ Home. Here are the rules:— 1. The judge, starter, aiid stewards are to be full-blooded natives. 2. —All races of an unlimited number of rounds; the judge to - stop a race when ho thinks fit. • ■ . .'>3—Provided, that if the Maori horse is not in front passing the judge at .any [time the race to be re-run. ' 4. —All disputes to be decided by the '(Stewards; whose ’ decision, if unfavourable to the Maori horse; may be instantly reversed. , i '5. —The greenstone' “mere” for the Maoriland Cup must be won 15 times io be won outright; provided that the number of contests be limited to 14. 6. —ln the event of a Maori horse being left at the post, the starter to toss a coin to see if the race be re-run, and if the toss does not come right, the race [to be run again nevertheless. 7. —lf the pakeha’s horse does not leave the barrier the. race shall stand,; but the owner be fined six (6) bottles of Ale for not teaching .his horse better manners.. The fine ■ to be left to [the stewards, to dispose of.' - 8. —No intoxicating liquor ' to be. sold bn the racecourse, but ...... behind first gorse bush free (The remainder of rule 8 is unfortunately, or rather, I should say, very unfortunately, undecipherable.) . It was probably • to one of. these gatherings that our old and estimable friend, Tiin Troy referred when he told the following story: “One time I got a good trotter off Skipper Bowden and we had him ready for the races that the Maoris used to hold at Orakei about ■ thirty years ago. The chief used to be e, Maori weighing about 25st. He was called Paul, and wars the "master, of ceremonies at the meeting that used to be held there on Christmas Day. ‘You got te good horse’’ asked Paul. ‘The .winner,’ I said, ‘and his name is Tommy Atkin.’ ‘I te handicapper too,’ said Paul. ‘I give him te limit, awd have a

bet on him.’ Tim says that Orakei race day duly came round, and he invested £3. for the Maori’s benefit at the fairly long odds of 10 to one. Having tendered the ticket to the dusky potentate, he went and backed Tommy Atkin for ’roundly £3OO. On that memorable day Tommy Atkin was ridden by F. H. Creamer, who was an athlete and champion walker. The horse did not show up too well in the first few rounds through the scrub, but he finally

bounded to the front, and then Paul, clanging the bell, vigorously announced that it° was the last round. Tommy Atkin’s win .was followed by a shower of protests.- Paul conducted the inquiry in the native tongue,' and after much debate announced the finding of the stewards. Amid cheers and dissent Paul said that some pakehas were thieves. “This te honest lot of Maoris,” he ‘added. “Te honest pakehft has te best horse and win. I have te ticket on him too.”