AT THE RACES

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26492, 6 August 1951, Page 2

AT THE RACES

MANY VISITORS ATTEND Visitors from far and near joined a great crowd of Christchurch residents at the Riccarton racecourse on Saturday and enjoyed the Canterbury Jockey Club’s first-class programme of racing. The weather was cold but fine and calm, with fitful sunshine, and women patrons for the most part wore warm coats, with a few of gros-grain that were notably smart and some of beautiful rich-look-ing fur.

Mrs Gilbert Grigg, wife of the chairman of the club’s committee, wore an attractive suit of mahogany gabardine, a fur necklet and beige felt hat with upturned brim finished with coque feathers. Mrs Holland, who accompanied her husband, the Prime Minister, wore .a wineberry red ensemble with full length coat, double silver fox fur and beige hat, finished with a feather mount.

Two women played a prominent part in the most important event of the day. They were Mrs William Deans, niece of Mr A. B. Williams the owner of Bandmaster, the winner of the Grand National Steeplechase, who received the trophy for the race from Mr Holland, and Mrs L. Campbell, of Hastings, who is joint trainer of Bandmaster.

Among the visitors in the record crowd were Dr. Elspeth Fitzgerald, of Oamaru, joint-owner of Trinidad, Mrs Murray, of Braemar, Lake Tekapo, who accompanied her sister, Mrs Maurice Warren. Mrs Victor Mulligan (Carew), Mrs John Barker (Woodbury), Mrs J. Solomon. Mrs F. M. Halsted, Mrs Frank Fay (all of Dunedin), Mrs H. McHugh (Winton), Mrs H. McLeod (Ranfurly), Mrs B. Savill (Timaru), and Mr and Mrs R. L. Orbell, who recently returned from a trip overseas. From North Canterbury had come Mrs G. L. Rutherford and her daughter. Mrs Barker (Geraldine), Mrs T. C. Robinson, Mrs J. Ensor. Mrs J. F. G. Blakely (Waikari). Mrs T. Mating and Miss K. Polhlll (Hanmer Springs), Mrs Le C. Latter. Mrs J. Fraser (Mount Benger). and Mrs L. R. C. Macfarlane. Kaikoura visitors included Mrs H. Acton Adams and Mrs Russell Laidlaw, and Marlborough was represented bv Mrs Colin Macdonald. Mrs M. Dillon, Mrs P. Dillon, and Mrs S. Scroupe. Miss V. Kettle (Hutt) and Mrs L. H. Collinson were North Island visitors, and other country visitors were Mrs T. McKellar and Mrs J. B. Hay (Pigeon Bay), Mrs J. Todhunter. Mrs J. Coop and Mrs D. McLeod, and Mrs R. M. D. Johnson.