Racing MEETINGS IN HOLIDAYS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28794, 15 January 1959, Page 5

Racing MEETINGS IN HOLIDAYS

194 Winners For

27., Fixtures

During the. Christmas racing period, December 26 to January 3 inclusive, there were 27 galloping meetings, with 214 raees including nine division races. The New Zealand Racing Calendar, records that there were 194 individual winners; 23 winners of two races; one winner of three raees (Romancing); one winner of five races (Tadpole). Altogether, 1453 individual horses had 2840 starts. In this period 192 horses had their first starts for the season. They raced 293 times, producing 10 winners of 11 races (Yahabeebe won two). Stakes were offered to the value of £137,050, inclusive of 35 trophies worth £1675. The biggest doubles dividend was that paid ■ out to on-course patrons at the Hawke’s Bay meeting on January 1. Dinosaur and Smoky Bay paid £ 1176 'ss for £l. At the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting on December 29, for the first time since the introduction' of the T.A.8., the on-course double was paid out on a first arid a fourth (Pendennis and Every Night). The dividend was £414 4s for 10s. Here also were the biggest win and place dividends paid out during the period, Pendennis paying £253 17s 6d and £42 Is 6d.

For the 27 days of racing the T.A.B. handled £1,271,250 15s, and totalisators on course £2,147,792 ss, making a total of £3,419,043 wagered lover the holiday period. In the same time the T.A.B. returned to patrons £61,072 bet on scratchings at gallops alone, costing the Board £4581 and racing clubs £305 10s.

Army Caterpillar

Outbreaks

(New Zealana Press Association)

AUCKLAND, January 14. Farmers were today advised by the Department of Agriculture to keep a close watch for outbreaks of army caterpillars and to stamp them out before major infestations developed.

Two small outbreaks of the pest are reported in the far north. An official of the department said the present wet weather could result in larger infestations.

Another big problem in the north, he said, was crickets. Farmers should guard against pasture damage from them by destroying them before they reached the wing stage.