Christmas Holidays.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1867, 28 December 1874, Page 2

Christmas Holidays.

Many, doubtless, 1 were the conjectures \ last night as to what humor the weather would assume to-day, the last of the Christmas holiday. It might be said with confidence that nobody—unless he or she be a miserable in grate—felfe disappointment on rising this morning, and feeing the sun peep over the hills with such a genial look as promised much for his good behaviour during the remainder of the day. People have of late totally abandoned themselves to a thorough en* joy ment of the holidays. On former occasions in years'that are gone it has often been observed that commercial people and shqpkeepc rs are actuated by considerations of money making— mere grovelling consideratioas of course, but nevertheless a fact ;—and here and there odd shutters taken down, and in some instances a forlorn attempt made to look lusiness like by watering the footpath, seemed to ofEVr a mild remonstrance against the principle of holidays in general. Not so this year. The shops have been fast closed,' as if they had gone into a trance for a stated period and could not] be made to blink. A very few shutters ■ were taken down this morning, and they were put up again with surprising alac rity by itching fingers. In the grateful cool of the morning muslin-clad beings might have been seen tripping along in the directiono.f Parawai, escorted by their; swains; a'so the inevitable paterfamilias and his tribe. Later on the busses began to run, which were all taken possession of in haste, for towards the middle of the day walking became an impossibility, unless indeed to a very well tanned subject. The sun's heat was insupport able, and the demand for handkerchiefs, lemonade, fans, scent-bottles and other revivifying matters was very large indeed. Many of the ladies might have exclaimed with some tntli after the style of the famed lady \! archioness—" I'm all amuck a sweat 1" Th& phraseology no one would have the during to pronounce elegant, but it i 3 exactly illustrative of the condition of many. THE BACES—SATURDAY. Our report of the races on Saturday included all the events of the day but the HACK RAGE.lOsovs; 1 mile. For horses owned two months prior to tha race by bona fide ie tiers of the district; no horse to carry leas than 9sfc. Post entry, 1 soy Mr Wilkinson's General ... ... 1 Mr Cook's Tommy ... .... 0 Mr Craig's Flyby-nighfc ... ... 0 Mr McCruiro's Flyaway ... ... 0 There were four entries for this race, which was well contested, considering the field. The winner was named at an early stage in the race. THIS DAY'S RACES. There were not as many people on tha ' race course to-day as on the first day, but. the attendance was still large, and the different booth proprietors will not have cause for grumbling. The fearful heat generated a thirst which at times taxed the resources of the best appointed booths to supply. The amount of strawberries and other fruits consumed was surprising, and it was a subject of frequent remark that never before on the Thames had .there been a holiday so generally kept, sports so well patronised, or a greater evidence of prosperity seen as during the current Christmas-tide. The first race today was The TRIAL STAKES (Handicap), 2Osov§ ; 1$ miles. For horses owned fir two months prior to the race by bona fide settlers of the district. Entrance, 2 sovb j norninition, l.fpv ; acceptance, 1 aov S. Vidal's. d o Potentate, aged, 7sn 1 lib J. Quin'iran's b m Bolle of tha Isles, 5 yr?, 7st 9 bs r ; W. Bobbett's b g Tarn O'ghanter, aged, 7sf9lb S. V.dal's b g Hero, 6st 101b The horses all came to the scratch and a start was made pretty punctually, all four getting well away together at the fall of' the flag., Belle got a slight lead, but the horses were all pretty well together until within haif-a-mile of the winning post, when Potentate let out and got ahead, a position which he maintained, coming in an easy v, inner by about ten lengths ; the rest in a heap. Potentate's galloping was much admired. The horses were placed as follows. Potentate „. ...' ... 1 Belle of the lie ... ... 2 Tarn o' Saanter ... ...- 3 Hero ... ... .;. The second event was looked forward to with some interest. It was the HANDICAP HURDLE RACE, 15 soys. 2 miles. Entrance, 2 sots ; nomination, 1 soy; acceptance, 1 soy E. D. Halatead's b g Ganaeboy, nge<i list 121b W. Bobbetfc's b g Arrowy 6 yrs, list lOlb Matiu Poono's bl g Native, aged, list 81b L. Ehrenfried'a gg Bismarck, aged, KM 111b Taipari's Parai There was a slight disinclination to start perceptible, neither jockey caring to lead the way in taking the first hurdle. Eventually they got away, and Parai took the first jump in capital style, followed by Arrow. Native refused his jumps, while Arrow made a fine show, doing his leaps well, and passed the grand stand first. The second time Arrow passed the stand he was closely followed by Parai, both horses jumping splendidly, and making a capital race of it, Arrow winning by three lengths. Ghmeboy was scratched. Race resulted as follows :— Arrow ... •• •■• 1 Parai ... ... ... 2 PARAWAI PUKBB (Handicap), 40.soys.' 2 miles. Entrance, 5 soys j nomination, 2 soy s ; acceptance, 3 co.vs. J. Barrow's b g Buridarra, aged, 8-it,7lb S. Yidal's d c Potentate, aged, Bst 51b ' j" J. Quinlivan's b m Belle of the Isles, syrs, Ssfc |

Some delay occurred in starting this race. The owners of Pi tentate and Bell of the Isle wanted to scratch tlieir horses, it being considered that Bundarra, would walk over. The following entry was made in the entry book, after much, delay, arising over a dispute as to the amount that Bundarra should give the other horses to run:—" pi he three owner*, after consultation with the Stewards, decided to run to win rather than start on < Bundarra's terms of £15 fur the other two bo/ses," „ A good start wa3 made, Bundarra leading right off, Potentate next, and,the Belle in the rear, apparently holding hard. The race was a preity one, though it was evident from the first what would be the result. The second time past the grand stand Bundarra was leading., with Potentate galloping splendidly about two lengths behind; the Belle had turned .off the course before coming up this point, and did not recover hersolf. The contest, thus Jay between Bundarra and Potentate, and great excitement was evinced as the * horses came in to the winning post, Bundarra the winner by some distance, and the Belle nowhere to.be seen. /•At lunch time; the Stewards 1 invited His Honor the Superintendent.and other, .. gentlemen to meet [hem, at the? festire ■board; afcer doing justice to which, the health of "the Superintendent 1 iwaftgproi. posed in complimentary terms \\ajjfr'M.t ■■':>■ Wilkinson and responded to byHis Honor in a capital speech; '-': . :>:%