OXFORD RACES.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7262, 23 January 1889, Page 6

OXFORD RACES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir,—Uou would incur a great favor if you could spare a .small space of your valuable paper to enable mc to correct a misstatement made by the reporter of your contemporary, the Lyttelton Times, re the Oxford races, and at which the Committee of the Oxford Jockey Club are greatly incensed, as it is not the first time that your .contemporary's reporter has, to a certain extent, thrown cold water on the honest attempts of our up-country Jockey Club to cater for the enjoyment of the public. In this instance he reports in the issue ot the 18th of January, that " the raciug was of a very uninteresting description, and the management not so efficient as tbe experience of the officials would lead one to expect." Now, sir, we defy ■ anyone' to point out where the races were uninteresting to any sporting man, let . him be ever so fastidious, and it was generally admitted on all sides i that closer finishes, and consequently ' better races, could . not possibly be seen anywhere, and many visitors fieely admitted that the handicapping reflected the greatest credit on Mr G. Cutis, the handicapoer. And, as far as management is concerned, I daresay if your contemporary's reporter knew a little more about the trouble and inconvenience we have to make these up-country meetings a success with the limited means at our disposal, he would not be quite so fastidious:. But it seems that some of these gentlemen when they leave the" Cathedral City and get into the -co->-try air, instead of being invigorated as one would naturally expect, seem to be exceedingly bilious until they see the dear old spire in tbe distance on their return journey. I may say, Mr Editor, that during the last three years we have, made many improvements, which were very favorably commented on by your own reporter on his visit to Oxford. We have as good acourseasanyClubout of Christchurch, we have a commodious stand and covered.booth, and have extended our saddling paddock so as to make it all that could be .desired. Our course is partly fenced with a paling fence, aud all heartsawn posts, and erected in a manner to enable many hundreds of people to get a grand view, of the races without incurring the danger so frequently remarked at other country meetings; and last, but not least, we have a space iv front of the stand, nicely fenced in, for the convenience of the totalisator and band. And now, Mr Editor, if the management could do that with, the very limited amount of money at its disposal, it ought to be sufficient to satisfy Jiot only the sporting fraternity, but even your contemporary's most fastidious reporter. Thanking you, in anticipation, for the insertion of this, I { «n»&c,t w -. W. Eyde, Pro Sec. of Oxford J.C.