TRADESMEN'S RACES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 278, 29 May 1873, Page 5

TRADESMEN'S RACES.

(From tlu " Morning Star.")

Cunsideringthe really excellent weather, we were greatly disappointed at not seeing a larger attendance at these races yesterday. The whole of the horses named in the Maiden Plate put in an appearance, and the race, which was a very slow one indeed — almost a trot — was won by Mr. Smith's Congreve by six lengths, there being the same distance beween the second and third horses. For the Birthday Handicap, the next race on the card, Gazalle was scratched the first thing this morning, her owner, Mr. Prituhard depending on Miss Rowe. A number of false attempts to get a gnod start was made, but eventually the horses got away capitally, tho H-.vj dropping to an excellent start. Wildbny and Merry men were the first to get away, and kept therunning for the first half mile, both pulling hard. When half a mile had been covered, Wildb >y dropped back, the running being taken up by Verbena, hard pressed by Little Nell. The running so continued for the remainder of the race, and coming up the straight run, Nell passed Verbena, wi ining by a neck. For tiie Selling Race there were seven entries but only four came to the post. These got away well together, and it was evident after they had gone half a mile that the struggle -would be between Lydia and May Morn. The two last-men tioned ran close together, and after an exciting race for the remaining mile of the distance, Lydia won by a head. A protest for foul riding on the part of her jockey was laid agaiust her by Mr. A. Smith, the owner of May Morn, bat was

disallowed. For the Novel Race, all but May Morn came to the post. They got well away, German Louis leading for the tirsc half-mile, closely followed by Sweetlips. The position was maintained till half a, mile from home, when Sweetlips, cleverly handled by Richardson, came to the front, and after a hard race won by one-and-a-half lengths. Miss Rowe being three* lengths ahead of Bobby Burns? The Hack Race was won by German Louis, who came in an easy winner ; Tomboy, an old favorite, being second ; and Gatherer, who looked every inch a hack, third. This brought the proceedings to a close, aud we are happy to say that we did not hear of any accident throughout the day. Mr. Geo. Dodson acted as starter, Mr. Stephenson as judge, and Mr. Sydney James worked hard in his capacity of a kind of Jack -of-all- work to bring the meeting to a satisfactory conclusion. The following is a detailed account of the racing : — Maiden Plate, of 20 soys. One mile and a quarter. Weight forage. For aU horses that have never won an advertised prize exceeding 15 soys. Smith's b g Congreve (J. Cotton) 1 Dodsou's eh in Sweetlips (Frazer) 2 Duncan's b f Forest Queen (T. Cotton) 3 All came to the front, and got away together, Pasquinade leading. On passing the post the first time, Congreve was second, and Alice Hawthorn and Sweetlips close by. When half the distance was done, Sweetlips passed Pasqninad. but before the former had taken nnv strides she was completely overhauled b Congreve, who won easily. The Duke, who was outpaced at the commencement of the race, was beaten by Forest Queen by about three-fourths of a length. Time. 2min 35sec. The event of the day was the Birthday Handicap, of 50 soys., with r sweep of 7 soys, the amount accrui: from the sweepstakes to go to the secou horse. One mile and a half. Captain Hutch eson's blk in Little Nell (Malone) •' Water's b f Verbena (S. Smith) i. Bridger's Merryman (Richardson) 3 Betting— 3 to 2 against Little Nell and Merryman ; 5 to 2 against Wildboy ; 3 to 1 against Miss Rowe ; 4to 1 agciinst the rest. For this race Gazelle failed to put in an appearance, Mr. Pritchard, her owner, depending on her stablo companion Miss Rowe. On the horses gutting avay, ! Merryman led, hard pressed by Wild'ioy and Verbena. When two-thirds of the | distance was travelled over, Wildboy dropped back, and Little Nell neaxly handled by Malone, filled his place. An exciting race between Verbena and Nell ensued. On the horses coming up the ! straight, and on passing the post, after a hard struggle, Nell was only leading by a neck, there being three lengths between the second and third. Time — 3rain 3isec. The next race on the card was the Selling Race, of 25 soys ; one mile and a half ; weight for age. Hastie's b f Lydia, 3 yrs, 7st 131 bto be sold for £40 (T. Cotton) 1 Smith's eh m May Morn, 4 yrs, 7st 101 b to be sold for £30 (J. Cotton) 2 Curran's eh m Lady of the Lake, aged, 9st 2lb, to be sold for £40 (Eraser) 3 Captain Hutcheson's b g The Duke, by ! Prince Alfred — Lady Teazle, 2 yrs, 6st 41b (to be sold for £50) (Malone) 4 Betting— s to 2 against May Morn, 2to 1 against The Duke, 3 to 1 against Lydia, 5 to 1 against Lady of the Lake. For this race seven were entered, but only four put in an appearance ; Wildboy, German Louis, and Alice Hawthorn being i reserved for either the Consolation or the Novel Races. The Duke got away with the lead one length before Lydia ; and this position was maintained till the halfmile post was reached, when Lydia and May Morn went to the front, leaving the others a long way behind. They ran well the rest of the distance, keeping almost neck and neck, Lydia winning by half a head. She was bought in by her owner for £41. Time— 2tnin lfaecs. Novel Race Handicap, of 40 soys. One mile and a quarter. The winner to be sold by auction, and the whole of the proceeds of the sale of the horse to go to the funds. Dodson's eh m Sweetlips, aged, 7st 81b (Richardson) 1 Pritchard's br f Miss Rowe, 3 yrs, ( J. Cotton) 2 Gourley's eh g Bobby Burns, aged, (Malone) 3 Betting : 2 to 1 against Miss Rowe, Sweetlips, Bobby Burns, and German Louis, 3 to 1 against Forest Queen. German Louis secured the lead, closely followed by Miss Rowe and Sweetlips, with Bobby Burns slightly in the rear. The positions remained unchanged till about half the distance had been travelled, when Miss Rowe took first place, with German Louis second, and Sweetlips third. On coming up the straight, Sweetlips made the running, soon collared the leading horse, and won by a length and a half ; Miss Rowe sucond, two lengths ahead of Bobby Hums, German Louis an excellent fourth, and Forest Queen beaten off the field. Sweetlips was bought in by her owner foi £33. Coxsohtiox Handicap, of 15 soys. One mile. Water's b f Verbena, 2 yrs, 6st 91b (Lowe) 1 Curran's eh m Lady of the Lake, aged, 7st (T- Cotton) 2 Cotton's b g Wildboy, aged Bst (J. Cotton) 3 Smith's eh m May Morn, 4 yrs, 7sfc 41b (Malone) 0 Betting — 3 to 1 against Wildboy or Verbena ; 2 to 1 against Lady of the Lake or May Morn. An Excellent start wa3 effected, Verbena slightly ha^ng the advaiitage over Wildboy and Lady of the Like, May Morn running off the course. This position was maintained unril coming u;> ttio straight, when Verbena showed the rest she was too ranch for them, increased the distance, and came in an easy winner by fully three lengths. Lady of the Lake, who passed Wildboy at the back of the course, also increased her speed, and beat Wild! oy by two lengths, May Morn a very indifferent fourth. The Hack Race brought out five horses, and was won by German Louis, ridden by Richardson. Tomboy, Tommy, Gatherer, and Powell also came to the post. The winner was submitted to auction, and fetched £19. The settling up took place at tiie Empire Hotel in tif evening, aud, as far as we could learn, everything passed off satisfactory.