MARTON-RANGITIKEI RACES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXI, Issue 3341, 2 January 1879, Page 2

MARTON-RANGITIKEI RACES.

(Telegraphic.) (From our Special Correspondent.) There was a splendid attendance at this popular meeting to day, as both by land and rail the public wended their way to the convincing ground, where, by the time the bell rang for the first event of the day to start, there must have been 2000 spectators present. The accomtno dation on the coarse hod not improved much sines' last year ; a judge's and stewards' stand being the only alteration. The betting fraternity were present in force, but the country settlers don't back I the favourites much, especially wiih strangers, so the harvest was not a very big one for the fielders. The stiffness of | the hurdles caused some of the horses to be scratched, as their owners did not like the look of the heav.y top rails. TTira was warmly supported, and pulled her party through handsomely. No falls occurred ; all the horses except War Eagle fencing splendidly. The Produce brought out nine grand looking aspirants for the money. Powdrell declared to win with Carlyle, and had no difficulty in doing so. A dozen smart backs then had a flutter once round, and a racing looking mare named Myrtle came through at the last and won easily. The scratching of Maritana in the Flying Stakes reduced

I it t.) a very sm«ll compass, as Stanley [ was spotted to win it from the star;. Jasper jjnd TaigourLdid a couple of miiei pjfeke^fwere tgClt off. Gefat i^atisf^ raon «jfis expßßased<at the»j)y ofi|S?anioupl #Yhent£ney l flfi staw> jasj^y w'hVse pliJctL was the admiration of at Maritana, and raced h e> iffgehimffo. i a spite of young Lain's attempts to keep 'btfn\back, and \ei something else cut out the running. Tho mare won without .being parsed. How the race would have ended had not Jasper overpowered his boy, is open to doubt, as he went very strong. Subjoined is the result of each event. Everything passed off. pleasantly, and there were no accidents : — Hubdle Race of 40 soys Distance 2 miles, over 8 jumps, 3ft 9in high ; weight for age. E. Stevens' br m Uira, aged, 9st 4lb ; carried 9st I3lbs (A. Campion)... 1 Palmer and Edwards eh g Awahou, Gyrs, 9«t 71b (Edwards) 2 Owen's br g, Junius, ageJ 9st 71b (Stent) ' 3 War Eagle also started Sloper, KinDon and Grey Mouius were s ■ ratcht-d. Juuius was taken to the front immediately the flag fell, with Uira, War Ka«le and iwaliou «ell up. At th<third hurdle the Grey ran off, and wax out of the hunt. Junius k» pt the lead until half the distance had been done, when Uira, who had been pulling double, was let out, and sailed away by herself, and won easily ; Awahou just beatmy Juuius on the post for second honors. Time— 4 mins 27 and three quarter sees. Produce Stakes of £50 soys— Entrance £3 ; distance one mile and a h;ilf. Powdreli's b g Carlve. 3yrs, 7st 9lh 1 Frazer's b m Rangatira, aged, 9-t 3>b 2 Belcher's eh in Zephyr, 4yrs, Bst 11 b 3 Omauuka, 4yrs, Pariknrangaranga. 4yrs, Volunteer, 4yrs. Fazzoletto, 4yrs, Hailstorm, 3yrs, and Warlock, 3yrs, also stated. A good start was effected, and the fi Id passed the st-md the first time in a cluster, Zephyr anil Rangatira then went to the front, and made the pice a little noiter. Entering the straight the whips were going, and it looked like a finish between the two, but Carlyle came with a flowing sheet, and easily settled their pretensions, winning with something m hand, with the oMiers some lengths off, and tue field strung out considerably. Time 3mm osec. Hack Kace of £10— Entrauce £l ; distance, once ronud the course. Mr Higgie's b m Myrtle 1 Twelve started. Flying Stakes of £30— Entrance £2 ; three quarters of a mile ; catcii weights. I- aing's b g Stanley 1 Lung's b m Expectation 2 Belcher's b m Gladys .. 3 Port Wine also ran. Stanley had it all his own way, and won comfortably. Time — lmin 17sec. Railway Handicap of 100 soys— 2nd horse to receive 20 soys out of the stakes, 3rd horae to save his 3takes; distance If miles ; nominations 2 soys ; acceptance 3 soys. Bay's Maritana, aged, Bst 51b ... 1 Gioson'b Otawa, 6yrs, 7st7lb 2 Higgie's Jasper, aged, 6st 51b ... 3 Redeemer, 6st 71bs, Tricotrin, 6st nibs, and Tamouri, 6st 3lb, al3O started. Betting— 6 to 4 o.i Maritana, 3 and 4 to 1 on anything else. Several false starts took place, one of which put Tamouri and Jasper's chances out of wiuning, as they went two miles together before they pulled up. When they were sent away Maritana went to the front and kept there, although Jasper first went at her for a mile, and then Otawa, but Mr Ray's mire never had to be touched, and was ridden wii bout spurs. She had fully a stone in hand at the finish. What Jasper m>i>h.t hare done had he not overpowered the lad is only a matter of conjecture, but it is quite certain he would have made the pace a cracker all the way. Time — 3;uin 17jsec. Stewards' Cup, value 25 soys, with 25 soys added — Entrance 3 soys ; distance I 5 miles ; weight for age. tfedei-mer 1