ROYAL RACE MEETING

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31043, 26 April 1966, Page 2

ROYAL RACE MEETING

The Queen Mother’s love of horses was evident by the keen interest she showed in the performance of the trotters at the New Zealand Metropolitan Troting Club's royal meeting on Saturday.

Brilliant sunshine and a cloudless sky greeted the Queen Mother when she arrived with Lady Jean Rankin, a lady-in-waiting, at 12.20 p.m. Ideally dressed for the hot Indian summer day, the Queen Mother wore a silk shantung edge-to-edge coat

with three-quarter length sleeves over a paler jade frock featuring a cross-over bodice. Her matching hat was of tulle and feathers, and her ensemble was completed with gunmetal grey sling back shoes with open toes, and a bag and bone gloves. The Queen Mother wore a triple row of pearls, and a large diamond and pearl brooch was pinned to her left shoulder.

With the royal party were the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Seath) and Mrs Seath, who introduced the Queen Mother to the president of the Trotting Club (Mr R. W. Saunders) and Mrs Saunders.

On her way to the royal box, the Queen Mother stopped several times to acknowledge the cheers and waves of the large crowd. Children '■ pressed their faces against the railings and adults showed their affection with a rousing round of applause. Most women patrons had less faith in Christchurch weather than had the Queen Mother. In the main they choose wool suits and ensembles. Styles were conservative, and hemlines were usually about three inches below the knee. However, some older women had shortened their skirts to mid-knee. The newest trend noticeable was the longer-line suit jacket—shaped to the body and featuring a low revere collar. All colours were popular, with blue, winter white, black and brown predominating. Touches of burnt orange, cherry and emerald glowed among more sombre shades. ' Hats came in all shapes and sizes, and in all fabrics : from mink to straw. While 1 many showed the trend for : the smaller head look, others were true Ascot models. Feathers, either as trim < or a whole shape, appear to be returning to fashion, and were the choice of many pat- i rons.

Lady Jean Rankin wore i slim-line ensemble of hop sack in bone, with taupe baj and gloves and brown shoes Her head-hugging hat was oi golden-brown swathed velvet Mrs Seath chose a royal blue wool sheath dress undei a bolero-style jacket, th« scooped neckline finishing ir a tie. With it she wore a donkey brown plush velOui toque trimmed with toning feathers and brown bag and gloves. Mrs Saunders's fine wool black dress featured a cowl neckline and black satin bow at the waist. Over this she wore a black Persian lamb thigh-length jacket with a swing back and brown ranch mink collar. The fur was repeated in her halo cloche hat. The wife of the vice-presi-

dent (Mrs G. W. Blaxall) wore a knit jacket frock in black and white pin stripe. The jacket had a half belt at the back and her hat was a plaited beret in ming blue satin. Before the Queen Mother moved to the Royal box for the start of the second race several race officials were presented to her by Mr Saunders. Those presented were: Mr and Mrs Blaxall, the club’s treasurer (Mr C. S. Thomas) and Mrs Thomas; the immediate past president (Mr J. K. Davidson) and Mrs Davidson; the secretary (Mr D. C. Parker) and Mrs Parker; committee members, Mr C. E.

Evans and Mrs Evans, Mr G. W. A. Green and Mrs Green, Mr C. E. Hoy and Mrs Hoy, Mr D. McCormick and Mrs McCormick, Mr E. T. McDermott and Mrs McDermott, Mr H. D. Matson and Mrs Matson, Mr K. C. Meyers and Mrs Meyers, Mr R. F. J. Powell, Mr M. S. Rudkin and Mrs Rudkin; and stewards, Mr R. E. Booker and Mrs Booker, Mr L. R. Burt and Mrs Burt, Mr D. E. Dalzell and Mrs Dalzell, Mr H. M. S. Dawson and Mrs Dawson, Mr J. K. Dobson, Mr P. T. Mahon, Mr A. R. Murray and Mrs Murray, Mr J. M. G. Osborne and Mrs Osborne, Mr R. A. Witbrock and Mrs Witbrock.