Races on the Pito-one Beach.

Grand horse races had been appointed to come off on 20th October, 1842, on the beach at Pito-one. Nine of the best horses had been entered some months before at ten guineas each. The horses were in regular training; jockey jackets and caps page 111 were being made; top boots and whips sought out; and betting books were pulled out at the hotels, the club and other lounges.

Jerningham Wakefield was appointed Clerk of the Course, and “Bob” Jenkins Steward. A day was selected on which a very low tapering-tide would leave a hard sandy beach uncovered. The distance was about a mile and three-quarters, from the mouth of the Hutt to Pito-one Pa. It poured with rain on the 19th, and Mr. Molesworth's house, where Wakefield spent the night, was full of sporting characters, including some of the gentlemen riders for next day, busy drying themselves after the soaking they had received coming from town.

Next morning (the 20th), the village of Aglionby (opposite side of the river), was in an uncommon state of agitation; the stable yard of the neat little inn was full of grooms and horses, And clodhoppers, dressed in their best, were coming down the path along the river bank, with their wives and children; for a general holiday had been agreed upon.

Mr. Watt's pink coat, the only one in the Colony, adorned Wakefield's person, and as the latter rode out of the inn yard in full Clerk of the Course's uniform, he excited universal admiration.

Te Puni was begged to have the native dogs tied up and to keep the pigs at home.

The company began to arrive from Wellington. Carts, waggons, bullock-drays were all pressed into the service, and the line of road was a miniature representation of Epsom. Six or eight of the ladies came over in a spring-cart containing chairs covered with flags; and the only gig in Wellington, imported from New South Wales, brought over the chemist of Medical Hall and two shopkeepers. One waggon contained the band of music; and a large flotilla of boats of all sizes and shapes brought over those who had no carts or horses or were too lazy to walk.

Booths, tents and stalls were rapidly put up, and one man wheeled a barrow about selling “ginger-pop.” The “Coming in” was close to Colonel Wakefield's old house, and there a cold collation had been provided for the ladies. The grand stand consisted of a few planks on the top of eight or ten water-butts outside the fence, supporting the chairs out of the carts.

The Clerk's duties multiplied. Firstly, in explaining to a party of natives why they should not lie basking on the middle of the track (the beach). Secondly, to implore a gang of whalers either to haul their boat right up, or push her nose off the beach; to get the sails of another boat, moored close off, furled so as not to flap about in the horses' eyes; and finally to stop the band as the horses were coming.

It was a brilliant cloudless day, with the heat of the sun just tempered by a light air from the southward as the tide made.

Five or six hundred people were assembled by eleven o'clock, when the horses started.

Seven horses started, as one of the nine had paid forfeit, and another had been killed some weeks before by a bullock which scoured the beach of the town in the paroxysm of fury which cattle often display upon being landed after a long voyage. The following horses started:—Mr. Watt's “Figaro,” ridden by owner. Mr. Molesworth's “Calmuc Tartar,” ridden by owner. Mr. Virtue's “Marksman,” ridden by owner. Mr. Geo. Hunter's “Temperance,” ridden by Dorset. Mr. Bannister's “Sulky,” ridden by Wade. Capt. Buckley's “Daylight,” ridden by owner. Mr. Revan's “Mazeppa,” ridden by Tyser.

Sweepstakes for ten guineas each, gentlemen riders. Heats of one mile and three-quarters.

page 112

One Mile Sweepstake, one pound each. Mr. Revan's “Dandy,” ridden by Dr. Dorset. Colonel Wakefield's “Beau,” ridden by Mr. Watt. Mr. G. Hunter's “Wai-ake-ake,” ridden by owner. Mr. Allen's grey gelding, ridden by owner. Mr. Virtue's bay mare.

One Mile, one pound a side. Mr. C. Von Alzdorf's bay pony. Mr. Lyon's cart horse beat Mr. Virtue's cart horse.

One Mile, five pounds a side. Colonel Wakefield's “Beau” beat Mr. Virtue's bay mare.

About thirty gentlemen on horseback followed in procession behind the ladies' cart on the road to town in the afternoon, and the day was closed with a race dinner at Barrett's hotel.