Race Meeting

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31195, 20 October 1966, Page 21

Race Meeting

The Rangiora Racing Club is looking forward to another excellent day of racing at the Rangiora Raceway on Labour Day. The club’s two-day programme got away to an encouraging start with a very satisfactory first day a fortnight ago, when the totalisator figures were a considerable improvement on the corresponding day last year. On course figures were up by about £lO,OOO while the offcourse turnover jumped by £22,000, with a total of £136,000 being handled. A popular addition to the programme in the last two years has been a fashion parade contest for the title of the “best dressed woman” at the meeting. This will be held again on Monday. No entry is required for the event, which is sponsored by the New Zealand Farmers Co-operative Association, Ltd. Candidates for the parade of finalists, which will be held on the bandstand in front of the main grandstand, will be selected by members of a judging panel mingling amongst the patrons. Marvellous Order

The grounds and the track, after being top-dressed and resown in parts, are in mar-

vellous order and a great credit to the groundsman, Mr Peter Rae, said the president (Mr L. H. Power). The club had continued its policy of improvement and development during the year, and 10 new loose boxes and 20 stalls had been used for the first time two weeks ago. Trees planted a year ago, to make an avenue of the entrance drive, and in other parts of the grounds, were growing well and would considerably enhance the attractiveness of the grounds as well as providing shelter for patrons as the trees matured. The main event of the eight-race programme will be the Beehive Brandy Thousand, a mile and a half event which provides a good trial for the New Zealand cup at Riccarton, about a fortnight later. Winner of both these events last year, Fieldmaster has been nominated again. The club has been fortunate in benefiting from sponsorship for two of the events. Ballins, Ltd., have partly sponsored the Beehive Brandy Thousand and provided a trophy as well, and an owner, Mr J. Wilson, has sponsored a trophy for the North Canterbury Handicap of seven furlongs, which carries a stake of £5OO.