WELLINGTON.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9817, 28 August 1897, Page 4

WELLINGTON.

August 23. At a meeting of the stewards of the Wellington Racing Club, held, at noon to-day, the disqualification imposed on horses which took part in the Greytown Hospital Sports on Queen's Birthday was remcyed. The decision will be welcomed with delight in the Waii-arapa, as a number of fair horses were placed under the ban throug'i competing at the meeting, and for some time past an agitation had been on foot to get the disqualification removed, which has proved fruitful. The rules of the Wellington Rueing Club provided that the nominations to fill offices of the club must be sent in seven days prior to the annual meeting, and the papers were opened to-day containing the following nominations :—President, MrE. Pearce ; vice-presidents, Messrs P. Franklyn ana T. G. Macarthy; judge, Mr G. H. Scales; treasurer, Mr G. H. Harbroe ; clerk of scales, Mr John Wilkin ; timekeeper, Mr Nat Grace ; hon. surgeon, l>r Purdy ; auditor, Mr D. T. Stuart; stewards, Messrs G. H. Hirbfoe, J. B. Harcmirt, J. Saunrlere, W. E. Bid will, W. Lingard. E. W. Kane, Geo. Hutchison, M.H.R., 13. J. Riddiford, J. J. Curtis and Hon. O, J. Johnston. There will be only an election for the position of stewards. Messrs C. P. Skerrett, J. Coates and J. Maginnity were also nominated for the position as stewards, but requested that their nominations be withdrawn. The sura of £10 was voted to Jα , ?. Laing, who was injured by the fall of Barman in the Trial Steeplechase at the club's winter meeting, and a bonus of sgs wae voted towards the expense of publishing the Now Zealand Turf Register, in addition to ordering ten copies. The annual meeting, which was called for the 30th inst., will be adjourned till September 6th, the stewards deciding to keep open the books till the end of the month. The question of licensing bookmakers will then be discussed.

Notwithstanding that T. Clark baa lost G. Williams' horses he is nevertheless receiving attention at the hands of owners, and F. Martin has placed Sylph, Kingwood and Choroid in his hands to train, the last-named coming up from Chriatoburch on Friday last. Clark occupies boxes at H. Fletcher's stables, and it is probable that further additions will be made to his team ere the season ia over.

The big colt belonging to Mr Riddiford, of the Hutt, which has been in H. Fletcher's hands, has been returned to his owner, the colt not fulfilling expectations.

W. Davies has put Leda into commission, and the mare is being allotted slow work. R. Kiogan is now installed at Randwick Stables at the Hutt, having returned on Friday with the Grawd Natioual Hurdle Race winner and Miniature, purchased by him in Christchurch. Kingan considers that the lameness exhibited at Riccarton by Umslopogaas will not prove serious, and reckons the gelding sound enough to do good duty ere the season closes. J. (Jotter, of Aehui-st, found his old favourite mare, Koromiko, dead in a paddock a few days ago. The old mare waa about thirty years of age.

I hear on good authority that the Wellington Racing Club is likely to alter the dates of their next season's winter meeting, so that it will follow the Grand National meeting at Riccarton instead of preceding it, thus making the winter gathering the club's first meeting in the racing season instead of tbe last as at present. Experience has proved that, owing to the fact that the local club is dependent, to a large extent, on outside support for its gatherings, both as regards competitors and visitors, it 13 preferable to follow the Chriatchurch gathering, so as to catch visiting horses and people to tbe southern meeting on their return journey. This aleo saves considerable expense to the racing public and thoa*

connected with horse 1 * in being abl« to kill two birds with one stone, as it will. Th* proposal to alter the dales appears r. sound one and is likely to still further lift the club in the opinion of owners, whose interests always received consideration at the hands of the local body. At the annual meeting of the Wairarapa Racing Club Mr W. IS. Cidwill will move " That a hack is a horse that has never won an advertised race exceeding £40 in value (hack and hunter races exempted) and is not nominated in any race other than hack or hunter races at time of nomination." MiBid will will also move " That the resolution passed re free entrance of vehicles and horses to the course he rescinded and the matter left to the stewards."

An Aucklandor who passed through here last week after a visit to the National Meeting, and who backed the winning double combination for £500 with an Auckland penciller, stated he did so on the recommendation of Mr J. O. Evett, the wellknown handicapper, and he intended making the latter a suitable present on his return home.

August 24. The following notices of motion will be discussed at the annual meeting of the Wellington Racing Club:— By M> Jas. Ames: " That it be an instruction to the incoming stewards to move a.t the next meeting of the Conference a proposal for racing clubs having the right to pay totalisator dividends on first and seoond horses." By Captain Falconer : " That it bean instruction to the new committee to make the necessary arrangements for issuing licenses to bookmakers who desire to attend and bet at future race meetings of the Wellington Racing Club." By Mr Wm. Lingard : " That the miuimum weight in any handicap shall not be less than 7st."

Amongst a fine list of nominations for the Marton J.C.s meeting oh September Bfch and 9th, are several Hutt horses, including Sword fish, Lady Agnes, Raupo 11. and Huntingdon.