WANGANUI RACES.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1686, 19 November 1861, Page 4

WANGANUI RACES.

(From the Wanganui Chronicle). We have to congratulate the inhabitants of Wanganui on one of the most successful meetings ever held on their course. Notwithstanding the quantity of rain that fell.iv the beginning of the week (he course was not nearly so heavy as might have been expected; the strong gale of Wednesday having done much towards drying the ground. A high wind also prevailed throughout Thursday, causing some iuconveuience to jockeys and spectators, which was however counter balanced by its drying qualities. We have the authority of many old members of the New Zealand sporting community for saying, that never has this meeting been surpassed for better oontested races, game riding, good feeling aud we are sorry to add, worse arrangements. This last feature of the meeting may to some extent be accounted for by the indisposition of two of the most energetic of the Stewards, who in former years have done so much to the firm establishment of the Wanganui meeting ; but still this is infficient to excuse the remainder both of stewards and committee, for the absence of a ring, posts, and good hurdles. FIRST DAY. On Thursday, the high wind prevailing probably prevented many from venturing on to the ground ; indeed wo have never seen so small an attendance. The horses entered for the Produce, five in number, all appeared at the post; Don Jon and Gipsy King being the favourites, although the others — Fisherman, Robin Hood and Kitty — had their admirers. Never were two favourites greater contrasts. Gipsy King — a son of our old friend Gipsy — stands, we should think, over 16 hands, a large brown horse, powerfull, but scarcely possessed of the points of a racer; Don Jon, on the other hand, is a low long horse, very powerful behind, standing about 15 hands, and showing strongly the Riddlesworth blood. It is hardly necessary to particularize the others as the race was actually reduced to a match between these two. A good start was effected, all passing the Judge's box well up; but on reaching the heavy ground, all but the favourites fell behind. These made steady running to the straight when a \ery pretty race ensued ; the Don beating the King by a neck. The others not placed. In the second heat, Gipsy King's jockey made play, closely waited on by Heywood on Don Jon ; but the pace was too good for the big horse, who gradually fell behind, and notwithstanding the effort and scientific guidance of his rider was beaten by about a length |

and a half; the other horses saving their distance; 1. Produce Plate of £50, (or more if subscribed) added to a Sweep stakes of £5 ss. each, PP., open to all horses foaled in the colony, and that have never run for Public money previous to the ensuing racing season 3 yrs. old, Bst. 71b., 4 yrs. 6st. 71b., 5 yrs. lOst, 6 yrs, and aged lOst. 4lb. Heats, mile and-a-half; second horse to receive £10 out of the stakes, no person allowed to enter a horse without he is a subscriber of at least one guinea to this Plate. Mr. Alex. Cameron's b. h. Don Jon, 5 yrs. Heywood 1 1 Capt. Blewitt's br. h. Gipsy King, 4 yrs. R. N. Biggs, Esq. 2 2 Mr. Lewis's b. g. Fisherman, 5 yrs. J.Day 3 4 Lieut. Lewis's cm. Kitty aged, Walker 5 3 Mr. Mussen's b.g. Robin Hood, 4 yrs. J. Hare 4 5 2 Scurry Stakes] of £20, added to a sweepstakes of one guinea each, p .p. Heats one mile and a half. Catch weights. Dr. Gibson's c. g. War Eagle, 6 yrs. Walker 5 Oil Mr. Foreman's c. g. Wbynot, aged J.Day 1 0 2, 2 Mr. D. Cameron's bl. g. Mazeppa, aged Heywood 2 3 Tain o'Sbanter and Blinkbonny also started. This was one of the best races ever run on the course. Sibyl being withdrawn, five came to the post ; they all got well away at a rattling pace, War Eagle being the favourite. But in this heat he sadly disappointed his friends, who were unable to account for the extraordioary way in which he seemed to shut up, except on the score of temper. Whynot came in first, Mazeppa a good second. In the second heat the Doctor's horse seemed to think better of it, made a good start, raced all the way round with Whynot, a dead heat being the result, This was the event of the meeting; the horses and jookeys were both rather baked by the struggle, for it was indeed a hard one ; every nerve and muscle was brought into play, and every effort used on the part of the riders; who both lauded their horses on tbe post in a most masterly manner. We were sorry to hear so much discussion on the judges decision, and beg to 4 remind our readers, that whatever is said after this fiat has gone forth oan do nothing towards changing the event, and can only lead to bad feeling. In the third and fourth heats Whynot made a gallant effort, but the " good drop" in the Eagle's blood began to tell, who was declared winner after one of the hardest and pluckiest raoes we ever witnessed. 3 Ladies* Purse of £20 added to a sweepstakes of £2 2s. eaoh, open to all horses, 3 yrs. old, lOst. 41b., 4yrs. list. 41b., 5 yrs. 1 1st. 101 b., 6 yrs. and aged, 12st. Heats, two miles, second horse to save his stakes. Major Trafford's b. m. Sibyl, aged Walker 1 1 Mr. D, Cameron's bl. g. Mazeppa, aged 2 0 Lieut. Lewis's b. m. Blinkbouny. 3 0 Sibyl won the first heat easily, and in the second walked over the course. 4 Stock-horse Race of £15,. added to a sweepstakes of £1 each, for Stock-horses j bonajide the property of Stock owners in j the district of Wanganui and Rangitikei, ! that have been regularly ridden after stock for at least 12 months before the date of entrance, and that are not entered for any race of the present meeting. Weight same as for Wanganui Stakes, post j entrance, single event, two miles. Mr. Harrison's Grabam 1 Mr. McGill's Littlejohn 2 Mr. Hill's 3 Mr. D. Cameron's Busty 4 SECOND DAY. On Friday the weather was all that could be required, and the attendance,was considerably greater than on the previous day. Some time was lost in the strengthening and heightening the hurdles, which after all were by no means of the best. Four horses answered the saddling bell for the hurdle race; the following was the result. 1 Hurdle Race of £25, added to a sweepstakes of £2 2s. each, p.p. 3 yrs. 6st,, 4 yrs, lOst, 5 yrs. lOst. 71b., 6 yrs. and aged lOst. lOlbs. Heats 2 miles, over six hurdles 4ft. high. .Second horse to save his stakes. The winner of tbe Produce or Ladies' Purse to carry 41b. extra. Dr. Gibson's c. g. War Eagle, 6 years J.Day 12 1 Mr. D. Cameron's bl. g. Mazeppa, aged Heywood 2 12 Mr. Eraser's b. g. Captain, aged Hill 3 4 Lieut. Lewis's b. m. Blinkbonny 1, Mr. G. Rosa ; 2, Walker 4 3 Mr. Hill led the way over the first hurdle, followed by Mazeppa and Blinkbonny, all taking it kindly ; Day on War Eagle took it more gingerly, as the horse seemed by no means sure of what he was going to do ; he was, however, put at it boldly, and got over somewhat clumsily; at the second hurdle Captain refused for the first time, but all the others went straight at and cleared it. The race now became really exqiting, the pace was excellent, and all took their hurdles almost at the same moment; the second time round the pace increased, all racing to the last jump. Mazeppa was passed by War Eagle actually on the leap, both Day and Heywood putting their horses at it in the pluckiest manner possible. The chesnut made one of the finest leaps we ever saw, not losing an inch, although we are frightened to make a guess at the amount of ground cleared, War Eagle having the heels of Mazeppa oarae in a winner by a few yards. 2nd heat. — A change was made this heat in Blinkbonny's jockey, Walker being put up, as Mr. Ross had ridden 141bs. over weight in the first heat. This was nearly as pretty a race as the first, not a single

horse refused, and all hands rode boldly to win ; Day, however, Relieving too much in his horse's powers, waited too long and made his play too late, and in the heavy ground. A fine race, however, ensued, War Eagle making splendid running, passing all but Mazeppa, who won by a neck. 3rd heat.— This heat was characterized by the same good fencing and riding as the former two ; the ohesnut, I however, evidently had the advantage all through, and came iv the winner by four lengths. We spoke to several old New Zealand Sportsmen, who all agreed that they never saw such a hurdle race in the colony, and seldom at home. They praised highly 'the determined and skillful riding of the various jockeys, and seemed to think that probably the name of Day would be soon as well known on the colonial turf as on that of the old country. 2 Wanganui Stakes of £30, added to a sweepstakes of £3 3s. each, open to all horses. 3 yrs. old 9st., 4yrs. old lOst., 5 yrs. lOst., 71b., 6 yrs. old and aged lOst. 101 b. winners and thoroughbred horses to carry 41b. extra. Heats two miles, second horse to save his stakes. Major Trafford's b. m. Sibyl, aged Walker 1 1 Mr. A. Cameron's b. h. Don Jon, 5 years , Heywood 2 0 Capt Blewitt's br. h. Gipsy King, 4 years R. N Biggs, Esq. 3 0 Three only appeared at the post out of five entrances. No doubt was felt as to the result for the first place ; the only interest excited was as to which would be placed second. Sybil. took the. lead and kept it. A doubt seemed to exist in the minds of a few as to Don Jon's right to the second money, but we beg the doubters to consider, that if it is imperative for a horse to go two heats for first stakes, it is just as necessary to do so for the second. • , 4 Consolation Stakes of £ 10, entrances £1 Is. each, for all horses that have run and not won a race during this meeting. Post entrances, weights to be handicapped by the stewards, single event, once round the course and a distance. Mr. Foreman's c. g. Whynot J. Day 1 Mr. A. Cameron's c. g. r J am o'Shanter Walker 2 Mr. McGill's Littlejobn 3 Whynot came in an easy winner. A hack and pony race concluded the meeting, .which has seldom been surpassed for really good sport, and was favoured with what our race meeting seldom eujoya, unexceptionable weather.