WANGANUI RACES.

Wellington Independent, Volume XX, Issue 2217, 10 June 1865, Page 5

WANGANUI RACES.

(From the Wanganui Chronicle, June 3.) The annual meeting, which, in consequence ofthe ; unsettled state of matters in the beginning of the year — the ordinary time at which it is held — was postponed to a moro favourable season, took place, on Thursday and yesterday. There was not such \ a large attendance of country settlers as usually marks the race meeting, but the settlers in the immediate neighborhood turned out well, and a J large number of military were on the course. A considerable number of ladies graced the grand \ stand on the first day, which was sunny and pleasant on the whole, although occasionally obscured ( by a passing cloud and a shower of rain. During Thursday night a heavy fall of rain took place, continuing till noon of Friday, and tin's rather ; diminished the number of spectators on that day. ' It also mado the course very heavy for the horses. Nevertheless, great interest was manifested in the proceedings, which did not terminate till after dark. Several booths were erected on tho course ' for the accommodation of the spectators, and a very commodious stand was well filled on both ' days. The pleasantness of the meeting was much enhanced by the presence of the band of the 57th ' regiment, which was brought together on this occasion for the first lime since it s members have < been at the front, from which they have just re-/ ] turned ; and notwithstanding the want of prac- ( tice, the band fully maintained its previous high < reputation, discoursing excellent music during - both days. The following races were run on the First Day, 1. Produce Plate of £ , added to a Sweepstake of £3 3s each, pp., open to all horses foaled in the colony, and that have never run for public money. 3 yrs old, 8 st 71b ; 4 yrs, 9st 71b ; 5 yrs, 10gt ; 6 yrs and aged, lOst 4 lb. Heats, once round and a distance ; second horse to save his stakes. Mr J. Hair's b m Melrose, 3 yrs, Walker ... 1 1 Mr J. Day's bl g War Eagle, aged, Owner 2 2 Mr J. M'Donell's br m Flora, 4 yrs, Thorpe 3 3 In the first heat Melrose made the running from end to end, and won in, a canter. In the second heat Melrose seemed to have the race all the way, and when she came to the distance post Walker pulled her up to a trot and walked past, the winning post. A splendid race took place in the second heat between War Eagle and Flora i for second place. Day's horse was very lame, . other-wise the race might have been different. 2. Scurry Stakes of £ , added to a Sweep- : Btake of £1 ls. Catch weights; single event ; , once round and a distance ; second horse to save hia stakes. .Dr Mussen's clig Rob Roy, 6 yrs, Walker.., 1 1 MrHussey's bl gßlaekDoctor, agd, Hindley 2 2 The pace was very severe for the first three quarters of a mile • then Doctor shut up, and the remainder of the race was gone over at an easy pace — Rob Roy winning easily. The winning horse was rode by a- son of John Walker's, who weighed five stone with his saddle, and whose riding wa3 much admired ; a prettier seat on a horse we have not scon for many a day, although he is but fifteen years old. 3. Wanganui Cavalry Volunteers. Mile and a half heats. Weights same as Ladies' Purse, to be ridden by Members of the Corps. Eighteen started, and made a very good race, as they kept together to the last, when the lead was taken by Mr Davis' b g Stockings. 4. Ladies' Purse of £ , added to a Sweepstake of £2 2 each, open to all horses. 3 yrs old, lOst 41b ; 4 yrs, list 41b ; 5 yrs, list 111 b ; 6 yrs and aged, 12st 41b. Single event, 3 miies • second horse to savo his stakes. i Mr J. Day's b g Garotter, 4 yrs, Calvert 1 "Dr^Mussen's eh g Rob Roy, 6 yrs, Cameron ... 2 Mr Styak's ns b g Bonnie Dundee, 3 yrs, Styak 3 Col. Morant's eh g Harkavray, aged 0 The four got well away ; Garotter took up the running aud made the whole of the way to the last turning, when he was joined by Rob Roy, and a splendid race ensued; at tho stand Garotter came away, and won by a couple of lengths. 5. Stock-horse Race of £ , added to a sweepstake of £1 each, for Stock-hoi*6es bona fide the property of Stock-owners in tho districts of. Wanganui and Rangitikei, that have been regularly riddon after stock for at least 12 months bofore the date of entrance, and that are not entered for any race of the present meeting. Weights same as for Ladies' Purse, post entrances, Bingle event, two milos. Conrad's eh g , Towgood 1 Mr A. Cameron's bl g Mazeppa, aged, Good ... 2 Mr Davis' b g Stockings 3 Two others came to the post, but were nowhere. Mazeppa made all the running for the first mile and a half. Mr Twogood then came up and won in a canter. Haok Race. — Five horses started and mado a good race, with the following result : — Mr Wickstead's eh g Dan, aged, Stewart 1 Mr E. Lewis's b g Gorilla, aged, Calvert 2 Mr Owen's gr g Maori, aged 3 Other throe hack races followed, to one of which ?5 horses came to the post ; to the second 17 ;

j aud to the third 23. Thoy were all capital races, and a largo number of the horses keeping well ' together to the end, so much so Ih'if v sheet would sometimes have covered seven or eight of them. One of (bese was won by a inure of Wm. Trafford's, but we did not observe who gained the other two. : Second Dav, 1. Hurdle Race of £ , added to a sweepstakes of £2 2s eaoh, pp., 3 yrs, 9st ; i yrs, lOst ; 5 yrs, 10s t 7 lb; (J 'yrs, and aged, ICU 101 b. Heats once round and a distance, over G hurdles 4 foot high. Second horse to save his stakes. Tho " winner of the Produce or Ladies' Purse to carry 41b extra. Mr J. Walker's ns g g Weka, aged, Day ... 1 1 ■Mr A. Cameron's bgMoonraker, aged, Thorpe 2 2 ;Mr Heyland's b g William Tell, oy, Calvert 3 3 Col. Morant's eh g Harkaway, nged 0 0 j Wek-.v waited in both races, and won easily. The i jumping was very good, no baulking having taken 1 place, aud all the horses taking the leaps in splendid style. ! 2. Cavalry Volunteer Hurdle Race. — Weights same as Ladies' Purse • to be ridden by Members of the Corps. Two mile heats. ; Mr Morgan's br g Highflyer, Owner 1 j Mr D. Bett's g g Scutari, Higgie 2 Mr R. Day's b g Prince, Owner 3 Eiglit more started, but were not placed. This was a good race from end to end, the leaps being taken uncommonly well, and a pretty smart run between the three horses took place at the finish. Highflyer coming in first by about a length. 3. Military Plate of £ , added to a sweepstakes of £2 2s each, pp. 3 yrs, Ost ; 4 yrs, lOst; 5 yrs, lOst 71b ; 6 yrs and aged, lOst 101 b. Ono mile and a half. For horses that have not been entered for any other race during tho meeting, owned or nominated by officers of the Imperial or Colonial Forces, and ridden by gentlemen riders. Capt Harrison's b m Annie, aged, Twogood ... 1 Mr L. Daniell' s eh m Glance, 3 yrs, Wieksteed 2 Lieut Green's eh m Rainbow, aged, Owner ... 3 Mr Twogood's br g Shamrock, aged, Capt Hall 4 Two others started, but were nowhere. This was a splendid race with Annie and Glance, and likewise for a third place, between Rainbow and Shamrock. Annie came in by about a length. Mr Toogood's riding in this and the stock horso race was much admired. We were glad to sco so many good gentlemen riders, and hope to see them again in such another struggle at next meeting. •1. Waxganui Stakes of £ , added to a sweepstakes of £2 2s each. Open to all horses ; heats once and a distance, second horse to save his stakes. Weights same as the Produce. Dr Mussen's eh g Rob Roy, 6 yrs, Thorpe 1 1 Mr J. Hair's b m Melrose* 3 yrs, Walker... 0 2 Mr Hussoy's bl g Black Doctor, aged, Day 2 3 Mi* Calvcr's b g Bonnie Dundee, aged, Owner 0 0 In the first heat Rob Roy made* all the running, and won in a canter, Melrose wailing. In the second heat Rob Roy and Melrose jumped off together. Melrose seemed to be going very easily about half a mile from home, lying close to Rob Roy, when sho met with an accident in going through some very heavy sand ; ehe caught one of the plates of her fore shoe with her hind foot, one end breaking off and the other being driven round to the middle of her foot. This mishap prevented her from getting so near Rob Roy as she might have djne, although it is doubtful if she would have come in first in the slate the course was in. Rob Roy won easily. 5. Welter Stakes of £ , added to a sweepstakes of £1 Is. 2 miles, single event. 3 yrs, list 31b ; 4 yrs, 12st 31b ; 5 yrs, 12st 101 b ; 6 yrs, and aged, 13st. Post entrances. This race was walked over by Mr Day's Garroltee. 6. Consolation Stakes of £ , entrance £1 Is each, for all horses that have run and not won a race daring tliis meeting. Post entrances, weights to be handicapped by the stewards, single event, once round the course and a distance. Lieut. Toogood's br g Shamrock, aged, 9 st, Walker 1 Mr A. Cameron's bl g Mazcppa, aged, lOst, Thorpe 2 Mr Hnssey's bl g Black Doctor, aged, 10 st, Lind 3 Mr Handley's b g Bonnie Dundee, 3 yrs, 9 st, Calvert 4 Mr A. Cameron's b g Moonrake, aged, 105t ... 0 Shamrock made the running for the first halfmile. The Doctor and Mazeppa then came up and a splendid set-to took place, at the end of which Walker landed the old horse a winnor by a length. Twenty-nine horses came to the post for the two-mile Hack Race, and made a capital race, which was wou by Mr A. Cameron's Tarn o' Shanter. This last race was won by moonlight, which shows that the interest was kept up to the last. The whole went off admirably ; Lieut. Toogood performed the duty of starting to admiration, as not one false start took place; and Major Nixon fulfilled his duties as Judge in a way which gave entire satisfaction. The only objection mado during the two days was at the Ladies' Purse race, when Mr Cameron lodged the complaint that Mr Calvert had made a cross in front of tho Grand Stand. The evidence, however, was in favor of Mr Calvert, and the Judge decided accordingly. We understand that the settling day is fixed for next Saturday, the llth inst., at noon, at the Commercial Hotel. The proceedings were wound up pleasantly by a dance yesterday evening in Mr Lethbridge's building. Tho music was furnished by a part of the 57th band, which plaj ed exceedingly well, aud added much to the enjoyment of the evening. The dancing was kept up till 4 o'clock this morning, when the company separated much pleased with the arrangements.