CHRISTMAS SPORTS AND RACES.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 440, 29 December 1868, Page 2

CHRISTMAS SPORTS AND RACES.

SECOND DAY

Yesterday was the second day of the Westport Christmas sports, aud the first day of the races. It wits altogether a great day, not in Westport itself, but in its neighbourhood, for the race-course was crowded, and the streets of the town were deserted. On Saturday evening, and during Sunday, the number of miners who had arrived in town was very considerably augmented, and, as Sunday happened to be a miserable day in the item of weather, they had no alternative but to go to church, which, we grieve to say, many did not do, or to station themselves under verandahs, and from that vantage-ground to engage in the only attainable amusement of enumerating the horses, dogs, and rain drops, which were the principal passing objects in the streets. Sunday was altogether very unsatisfactory, presaging most unfavourably for the chances of out - door enjoyment on the following day. Monday morning broke beautifully, but towards noon a few showers fell, sufficient to- damp the ground, but evidently not diminishing the hopes of those who proposed witnessing the sports, or the efforts of others whose business or pleasure it was to cates for the public amusement. Minerr from the adjoining diggings continued to arrive in increasing numbers, and nearly all people who were not detained by rivalry in trade left town for the race-course. Cobb and Co. ran a six-horse coach at frequent intervals from the Empire Hotel to the booths, and Mr Jones, of the Orawaiti, drove his more humble equipage, and both were extensively patronised, especially by the fair sex and their juvenile charges. By midday there were many more people on the ground than there were on Saturday, and the number visibly increased every hour towards evening, but how. many thousands did actually assemble at any one time we were not able to ascertain with any positive accuracy. It was no doubt the largest public gathering there has as yet been on any similar occasion in Westport, and it may be the largest at this particular season, although there are yet two days of sports and races probably as attractive as were the sports and races ■of yesterday. Extra preparations had

been made by the booth-holders for the accommodation of their customers, and all seemed to be doing, during the day, a thriving trade. Mr Sheahan's Grand Stand had been constructed on a scale more than sufficient for the demand that was likely to arise, but at certain times it was very fairly filled, and it afforded a satisfactory view of all the events, but more especially of the races. Not a *few ingenious fellows organised " grand stands " on their own account, by taking possession of some of the tall trees in the neighbourhood, and by perching themselves in positions in occupying which there was apparently more risk than pleasure., At Mr Gibson's hotel there were also a few accommodated withseats'in a temporary stand, and entertained by a small band of musicians, but the great majority lined the course along the straight running, and on either side of the " Judge's box," which was occupied, on the occasion of each event, by Dr Giles. It so happened that, although there was some excellent racing, the Judge's duties were not duties of a very difficult character, the horses coming in usually a sufficient distance apart to prevent anything like dispute. The other honorary officers for the day—the starter aad the clerk of the course —had some active duties to perform, and they came to the ground with the evident intention that there should be no misapprehension as to their personality. Both Mr Eobertson, as starter, and Mr Seaton, as clerk of the course, came coated and breeched in orthodox fashion, and with an amount of attention to their toilet which very naturally evoked some very warm encomiums from the fair occupants of the Graud Stand. Their very dazzling appearance was, however, not their only merit, for the discharge of their duties was, like the cut of their coats, altogether faultless. The stewards Messrs Simpson, O'Conor, Carr, Hughes, and Eranklyn —were equally active and attentive to their duties, if less prominent as individual members of the crowd, and all their duties Avere fortunately accomplished without creating murmur or altercation on the part of any one. There was, in fact, as there was on Saturday, a prevalci:ce of good humor and good order, on the part of all, which it is to be hoped may continue to be the characteristic of the West port Christmas sports until they are concluded.

THE TILTING which, usually comes at the end of a programme of sports, was undertaken first yesterday, because it was the iteni which could not be completed on Saturday. rune competitors entered Messrs Woolfe, Maloney, Patrick, Haskins, Lambert, Irwin, Colvin, Wardrobe, and Milner. There were four rings to be penetrated and removed, and it was the intention that there should be six or eight rou .ids, but the game was interrupted after four rounds had been made, so that the other sports and races might be proceeded with. In these four rounds the following number of rings were taken : Woolfe 4, Malony 5, Patrick 9 (as our reporter and others counted, but the judge counted S, and, having seen 1h.2 rings brought in, he should be correct) Haskins 7, Lambert 1, Colvin 4, Wardrobe 3, Milner 3. All the competitors were very well mounted, and they moved, although they did not carry with them, a majority of the rings, but when the game was interrupted Patrick and Haskins scored the highest, Patrick having twice three rings in one round, and Haskins four rings in his last round. Lambert retired before the last round. The match was not resumed until evening, and until all the other sports had been finished ; and we are not in possession of accurate particulars ; but we believe that it was declared a " tie " between Patrick and Haskins, after other four rounds. These two then played off, Patrick riding under protest. There was again, a " tie," each taking two rings on the first l'Jund ; and, on the next round, Haskins took one ring, and Patrick two, the latter coming in, of course, amidst great cheering, and the winner of the prize of £2O. The second prize of £lO went to Haskins.

THE STANDING HIGH LEAP was contested by three competitors— Hamilton, Petrie, and Irwin. Irwin did not seem to be in his usual jumping trim, having sprained his ankle in the Saturday's sports, and consequently he did not attempt more than two jumps. Hamilton won the first prize (£3,) having outstripped his opponent by two inches, and Petrie was awarded the second prize (£1). The exact height was not taken at the time. The judges, being neither drapers-nor tailors, had not a tape-line "handy," and the history of the bit of flax with which the distance was measured, and which was carefully carried to the Committee room for future reference, we have not been able to follow up. Hamilton's average jump is, however, four feet six inches, and he cleared all that height yesterday, although he has not jumped since he competed with ■Howe last year. Another competitor presented himself after the entries were closed, and there was some mention of a match between him and Hamilton for ,£lO, but we did not hear of itß having taken place.

THE RUNNING HOP, STEP, AND JUMP induced seven entries Greig, Hamilton, M'Cormiek, M'Lcan, Dag, Currie, and Fabey —and after considerable competition and good jumping, the number of competitors was reduced to two—Hamilton aud M'Cormiek—who tied at a distance of 38 feet, and they agreed between themselves to divide the first and second prizes, amounting to £4, rather than to continue contesting it-

THE WBESTLING, (Cornish and Devon), was postponed unti* this forenoon. There are already five entries received for this sport.

THE BACING was, of "course, an attraction far superior to the other spoi'ts, and most of the events were witnessed with much interest and excitement, although the popular ignorance as to the qualifications of many of the horses prevented any active betting. There was, however. a pretty general disposition to invest in sweep-stakes by the occupants of the Grand Stand and by some eager book-makers who surrounded the committee room and . the saddling paddock; and, judging by the increasing number of good-natured faces to be seen towards afternoon, many must have invested to advantage. Among the "knowing ones" there were undoubtedly some warm friends of horses or their owners, but there was not the usual amount of "backing" which is to. be heard on a race-course, and the relative value of horses, in the matter of figures, it would be impossible to quote. It would be equally impossible to quote their value in the opinion of their owners, for, whether winning or losing, they were usually declared to be beyond price or purchase. The race which happened to be least exciting, if it was not altogether uninteresting, was the race for the Maiden Plate. This happened by one of the horses breaking from the course, by another bucking his rider, and by the others coming in not so closely as in the races which followed. For the Packers' Purse there were eight entries, and a good race, Charles Lyons's " Sulkey " coming in first. The race for the Town Plate was, however, decidedly the race of the day, so far as mere interest went, not because its result was dependent upon fair running or a fine finish, but on account of the incidents or accidents by which it was accompanied, and which materially affected the result. For the Butchers' Purse only three horses ran, but there was a very mood race, and a dose struggle between Selim and Grasshopper, the latter winning. The Hurdle Race was particularly remarkable by MiTrimble's Gipsey going riderless round the course, after throwing her jockey, and performing her duty in regular circus style.

THE MAIDEN PLATE was the first event, and there having been little or nothing previously known of the horses' merits, considerable interest was manifested as to the result of the first race, as a guide to some of the others. The entries were Mr Harris's e.g. Lightfoot ; Mr Murray's e.g. Tommy ; Mr Coxan's g.g. Barwon ; Mr Trimble's bk.f. Black Bess ; and Mr M'Laren's b.g. Deerfoot. The value of the stakes was 10 sovs, added to a sweepstake of two sovereigns each, and entries were only open to horses that had never started for an advertised race. The distance was one mile, with weight for age. All the horses, being aged, with the exception of Mr Trimble's Black Bess, which was a two-year old, and carried 6st 121bs, carried an equal weight of 10 stones. A very good start was made, but it was soon evident that, notwithstanding the advantage of the lightness of weight, the little filly was too restive for her young rider, who handled her with an evidence of experience, though he was unable to keep her on the course. Deerfoot also met with a misfortune in throwing his rider, leaving the race to be contested by the .remaining three, Tommy, Barwon, and Lightfoot. They reached the winning post in the order mentioned— Tommy, first; Barwon, a good second; and Lightfoot, several lengths behind, came in for third place. THE PACKERS' PUKSE brought out eight horses, whose names and owners we would willingly give if we could distinguish them on the copy before us, but mifortunately that cannot be done. There is only space to say that Mr Lyons's Sulkey led in both heats, but on each occasion was run closely by a horse of which all we know is that it was ridden by a boy who had some difficulty in keeping it in hand. Garry Owen made a brilliant attempt at the outset, but was soon declared by a competent judge to be "pumped."

THE TOWN PLAT. The first Westport Town Plate has been the talk of many of the owners of horses, as of jockeys and the so-called sporting men for weeks past. The stake was the heaviest announced for the week (.£49), and the distance was two miles and a distance. Five horses were entered, Mr Trimble's Gipsey being scratched before the horses saddled. The other entries were Mr Murray's c. g. Tommy, carrying 9st 41b; Mr Woolfe's b. g. Little John, carrying lOst Mr M'Ginley's b. g. Squatter, carrying 9st 41b; Mr Leslie's c. g. Cossack, carrying lOst; all aged. After the usual drawing for places, a fair start was made, and Cossack, the favorite, passed the Grand Stand leading and hard held, Little John following close up, and Tommy and Squatter at no great distance in the rear. In this position they were kept until the last rouud, but shortly before what may be termed the straight riinning Cossack made a stumble and threw his rider, losiug what to all appearance was hitherto a certainty, tw the fortune of Little John, which immediately embraced the short opportunity offered and came in first. Cossack's jockey soon remounted and whipped up for a second place, which he accomplished, leaving Tommy the third place. Great disappointment was expressed at the mishap of Cossack, as it was generally believed that he w*.s the best horse entered, and, no doubt, but for the accident he would have carried the palm in the leading event.

THE BUTCHERS' PURSE, of 15 sovereigns, with a pair of new first-class jockey boots, presented by Messrs Eoberts and Simpson, produced three entries—Woolfe and Freeth's Grasshopper ; M'Lai-en's Deerfoot; and Kingham's Selim. Grasshopper came in first. Notice «f the race, as of some of the others, must be made again.

HANDICAP HURDLE RACE. For this race, which was looked upon as one of the bestof the week, there were threeentries, viz., Mr Coxons g. g. Barwon, aged ; Mr Woolfe's b. f% Slim Jim, aged: ' Mr Trimble's b.m. Gipsey, aged. The value of the prize was 25 sovg., and the distance two m'les, over four flights of hurdles of 3 ft. 6 inches each round of the course. For this race Mr Trimble's Gipsey was the favorite throughout, and there is little doubt that with anything like kick she would have carried »ff

the first prize, but Unfortunately towards the finish of the first round, and after having taken the hurdles uncommonly well, the jockey was thrown, leaving the race to bo contested by Barwon and Slim Jim. After the accident to the jockey riding Gipsey, which wo may state was not of any serious nature, beyond a slight bruising to the rider, Slim "Jim kept the lead, though Barwon kept well up to the finish, and Gipsey, though then riderless, followed the horses all the way round, often being neck and neck with Slim Jim. An excellent fin wh was made by the three horses passing the Judge's Box within a few lengths of each other, the prize falling ag:rn to Mr Wallace Woolfe,for whom Slim .) iui has won the first hurdle race in this district.

Wc understand that several protests have been entered with the Stewards on the events of the day—one by Mr Leslie against the winning horse of the Town Plate, not starting according to conditions, and not being entered by the proper owner. Two protests have also been entered against the winner of the Butchers' Purse, one by Kingham and another by M'Laron, for various reasons. A fourth protest has been entered against Slim Jim winning the Hurdle Itace, in not starting according to the conditions. On all these the Stewards will give their decisions, we understand, to-day or to-morrow.

The foregoing is only a report "in the rough " of the sports and races so far as thny have gone. A supplement will be published during the week, containing all particulars.