Waipa Racing Club's Annual Races.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2116, 30 January 1886, Page 2

Waipa Racing Club's Annual Races.

President : Mr W. Taylor ; Vice-Pre«i-dent: Mr F. A. Whitaker; Judge: Major Jackson ; Stewards : Mr w, Taylor, Mr Kirk, Mr W. Bond, Mr J. W. Elli<s Mr W. H. Grace, Mr 1\ A. Whitaker, Mr J. H. Scott, Mr C. J. Storey, Mr J. Pollard, Mr S. N. Wetney, Mr J. B. Teasdale ; Starter : Mr W. W. Higginson ; Clerk of Scales :Mr J. W. Ellin ; Clerks of Course : Messrs J. A. Higginson and S. Bond ; Honorary secretary : Mr R. W. Roche. The annual meeting under the auspices of the above club came off on tho course at Te Awamutu yesterday, and wai graced with the usual wet weather. The club hat been unusually unlucky in this respect, as out of five race meetings four have been attended with rain. This is much to be regretted, as the course is one of the best in the colony, and its natural advantages render it possible for the whole of the spectators to see the racei from start to finish. But for the rain, which fell heavily throughout the day, there would doubtless have been a very large concourse of people. As it was, over ,500 persons must have been on the ground, but their enjoyment was damped by the weather, and Jupiter Pluvius was plentifully anathematised. The stewards were almost inclined to postpone the meeting until the following day, and it was not until noon that they decided to go on with the evenK Under the unfavourable circumstances they did all in their power to give satisfaction, and it must be admitted that they succeeded. The secretary, Mr Roche, was most indefatigable in his endeavours to make everything go off with ecl.lt, and great credit is due to that gentleman ai well as to the other officers of the club. Mr Higginson discharged his duties as starter with the utmost satisfaction, alike to horseowner* and the general public. A totalisator wot) on the ground and was fairly well patronised, whileanumber of games of chance were offered to the confiding public. The Te Awamutu band, under Mr Sibley, attended, but owing to the rain their sweet strains were not heard to advantage. The publican's booth, in the hands of Mr Bond, of the Star Hotel, Kihikihi, and the temperance booth, presided over by Mr Walker, of \lexandro, gave every satisfaction. The racing on the whole was very good, though the pot boiled over in most of the events. The success of the Maori horses was a great surprise to many, as tho the result of the totalizator will show. The following is a more detailed account of the racing : —

Handicap Hurtues, of 25sova. Distance, 2 miles, over 8 flights of hurdles 3ft. Gin. high. Nomination, lsov. ; acceptance, lAsov. Mr~Kingi's b q Dick Hunt, 6yrs., lOst. 31b.«, (Ferguson) 1 Mr W. Searancke's blk q Jonathan, aged, 9st. lOlbs, 2 Mr H. Bullock- Webster's brg Waverley, syrs, lOst 3 Mr Goldsmith's b q Brac-a-brac, 6yrs, lOst. 41bs., and Mr Grierson's eh in Nancy, aged, lOst., also ran. The Worm was scratched. After one false start Mr Higginson got the horses away well together, Jonathan taking the lead, which he maintained for some time, breaking down the first hurdle, and allowing a free passage for the others. In jumping the second hurdle Bric-a-brac fell, but Goldsmith was up in the saddle without loss of time, and although his chance was gone, he gamely continued the race till the end, all the horses cleared the third hurdle, but Jonathan again made mincemeat of the fourth. At this time Nancy was close up, with Dick Hunt third and Waverley, well in the rear, fourth. Dick had the pride of place at the fifth obstacle, with Nancy second and Jonathan third, and in the order they crossed the sixth hurdle, but at the seventh Nancy balked, and the race then lay between the two Maori horses, Dick Hunt winning somewhat easily, with Waverley a bad third. Dividend, £1 16s.

Maiden Plate, of ISsovs. For horses that have never won an advertised race exceeding lOsovs. Distance, 1£ miles. Entrance, laov. Weights : 3yrs., Bat 2Uw ; 4yrs. 9st : 5, 6, and aged, 9st 31bs. Mr Kingi's b q Dick Hunt, 9st 31bs (Mckenzie) 1 Mr C. Starr's eh m Wet Sail, 9st ... 2 Mr O'Connor's be Colonist, 9st 31b ... 3 Bric-a-Brac, Colonist, Late in the Field, Hoppolitta, Maid of the Mist and Joe also started. Mistake, Satan and Just in Time were scratched. A very good start was effected. Fanny, the favourite, taking a strong lead, and going off in fine style. But it was e\ ident that her jockey was overdoing it, and that she would be pumped before the distance would be covered. Parsing the stand Late in the Field was second and Hippo] itta third, with Dick Hunt coming up in good form. At the back of the couise Dick went up to the front and passed Fanny, who then began to tail off. A good raco then ensued between Dick and Wet Sail, but the former had the better pace and came in a comparatively easy winner, with Wet Sail a middling second and Colonist a poor third. Bric-a-Brac was lust, Time, 3minutes 37 4-sths. Dividend £7 18s.

Maori Race of saovs, for horses owned and ridden by Maoris. Once round the course. Catch weights. Post entries, ss. Grasshopper 1 Lucy 2 Napier also ran. Napier went off with the lead, but Grasshopper soon caught him, and won as he liked, with Lucy an indifferent second. Napier was out of it coin plrtely.

Te Awamutu Cop Handicap of 40sovs., with a sweep of lsov. each ; amount of sweep to go to second horse. Distance 2 miles. Nomination, lsov., acceptance, 2sova. Mr M. R. Halcrowe's chg Snake, Gyra., 7stBlbs 1 Mr J. Muirs eh m Dressmaker, Cyrs., 7stlolbs 2 Mr Douglas' b m Fanny, Gat 3 The Clow n also started, Mr Halccovt scratched the only other acceptor, Alpha. After some trouble another good start wax effected, but Clown, who was greatly fancied, ran inside the first post, and Snake got away with the lead. Dressmaker second and Fanny third. Thin order was never broken, for although Dressmaker challenged the leader the second time round, it wan only by dint of whipping that she could be brought near, and she never waa dangerous. Up trie straight Snake came away, and won as he liked. Fanny, who had been losing ground all the time, being well in tho rear. Time, 4min. Sjjsecs. Dividend, £3 12s ; 16 on the winner out of 84.

Selling Hack Race of lOsovs. Once round the course. Winner to be sold for Ij"ov8, surplus (if any) to go to the funds of the club. Weight. lOst. Post entries, lsov. Wild Irishman 1 Loo 2 Flirt, Doubtful, Thorntopper,_ Just-in-Time, and Satan also ran. This was a very exciting race from start to finish, , but Wild Irishman managed to get well' ahead and won with plenty of room to spare. The others ware pretty close together at the finish. Dividend, £1 10s. The winner was put up to auction and bought in at £21.

Waikato Stakes Handicap of 15sovs. Once round the course. For horses the bona fide property of settlers in Wai pa, Waikato, and Fiako Counties for three months prior to date of meeting. Nomination, 10* ; acceptance, lsov. Mr M. Munros b m Orphan, syrs, Gst lOlbs ... ..: ... 1 Mr O'Grady's b*g Wild Irishman, aged, Gst " 2 Mr Halcrow'i Snake, Sat 3 Keuilwortli, The Clown, Grasshopper. Dick Hunt, and Late-in-tho-field also ran. Dressmaker, Alpha, and Joe were scratched. Some difficulty was experienced in starting, owing to the froctiousness of one or two of the horses, but the field was let off in fair order, Wild Irishman at once assuming the front place, which be kept round the back of the course, Orphan closely following, with the Snake close up. Coming into the straight the Orphan took command and was never collared afterwards, winning by about a length. Snake a decent third, and the rest nowhere. Time, linin 45 4-oths sec. Dividend, £8 2s. Three on the winner, out of 54.

Kihikihi Pi,ate Handicap of 20sova. Distance, l^miles. Nomination, lsov, acceptance, lsov. Mr J. Muir'a eh m Dressmaker, Bst 61bs 1 Mr M. Munros br m Orphan, Bst ... 2 Mr McClelland's Clown Bst4lbs 3 Snake, Alpha, Joe, find Evening Star, were scratched. This promised to be a very good race, but just as the horses were coining up to the stand the first time, a buggy drew across the course and could not be raoTed in time. The Clown ran on the outside, and so any chance he had was spoiled. The race then lay between the other two, but Dressmaker had it pretty well h«r own way, winning easily by a cople of lengthi. Time— 2mm. 2-sth sec Dividend, 18s j 31 on th? winner out o{ (it

Consolation Handicap of lOaovs. For all beaten huries during the meeting. Entrance, lsov. Only three horaes entered for this event, an J they came in in the following order :— Kenil worth 1 Clown ... . 2 J00... . 3 This concluded the mertinp, and amidst the blinding rain those present turned their face* homewards.