AWAPUNI

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 79, 3 April 1926, Page 23

AWAPUNI

ARTISTIC AND UTILITARIAN.

The old adage that "good wine needs no bush" is in full measure a parallel to Awapuni, for the very complete and advantageously ' placed raeccour.se needs little advertisement. It is certain,- howfiver. • that of the thousands who visit Awapuni on any race day few realise to the full the beauties of the course and its setting, or the great galloping ground • provided. The quality of the last-named is appreciated by trainers, for no fewer than 60 horses are, now being prepared at the Palmerston North course. With the outside of the course proper, two grass gallops, a plough, and sand track, there is no want of a gallop in any kind of weather. Added to this is the very central position of Awapuni, , with numerous race meetings within easy reach, and Palmerston North a- vantage point of getting away to the more distant important gatherings., The make-up and quality of the plough have to be seen to be appreciated, and certain it is that there is none better in the Dominion. Although the appointments appear as complete as possible,. progress ia the watchword- of the' Manawatu Racing Club, and after the experience of the ■ traffic of last Boxing Bay there is no likelihood of any repetition. The club has purchased approximately seven acre* of land adjoining tho gates. The road into the coui'se is to be widened considerably, and an island made just outside the gate 3. When these improvements are made there will be an abundance of room for all road traffic to proceed up to the gates, discharge passengers, circle the island, and proceed flown the road ,again. When the road has been made, the balance of the ground will be utilised for enlarging tho motor paddock. ■ , A first-class artesian well provides water 'for numerous tanks, so that there is always a reserve supply of many thousands of gallons of water. Practically every building on tho course has a huge tank, antl so far as water supply is concerned is self-contained! The presence o£ this adequate amount of water is shown by the beauty of the gardens, even the birdcage being resplendent with a border ot gay flowers. Hundreds of new trees are being planted to replace older vines, and in the meantime the club's officers »re concerned because of a parasite which is .attacking and destroying » numbpr pi.

noble willows in the carriage paddock. The trim kept lawns are a pleasure to the eye, while the buildings, neat and clean and nicelyl painted, are-an object lesson. The study and care expended on the buildings and their design is quite evident, while the arrangement of labour-saving devices in ths refreshment rooms borders on the scientific. The totalisator house in its arrangement • is a model of neatness, and has every provision for a rapid change over to the old manual system, if by any mischance the electrical machine went wrong. These totalisator facilities have always been a feature of the Awapuni course. The formation of the course proper is extremely regular, the straights being equal, with equal bends at each end. Tho track itself could be as equally right-hand-ed as: left-handed, and should the track be turned-into a. right-handed one the winning-post would be in close proximity to the members' stand. The distance of the present winning-post from the members': stand is the only feature criticised by visitors tp Awapuni. The new sevenfurlong barrier gives the horses an absolutely straight run of practically half a mile, a distance that lias to be seen to be realised. Concrete posts specially arranged have' been erected to carry the rails on that section- of the seven-fur-long course before it joins the round course, and they are so formed;that the top rail projects out quite a foot, so that it would be practically impossible for an -inside horse tp strike a post. At the present time it is proposed to substitute these concrete posts for those at present on the found course,' for the wooden rails now in use' are considered to be too low. .-,•.-■ Taking Awapuni air in all it is little wonder that after walking round it on a quiet day when there is none of the distraction of racing and its attributes, it makes such a strong appeal to any visitor from overseas. Familiarity hardly breeds contempt, but it does not make for adequate appreciation. It may be something of an object lesson to know that a recent Australian visitor to Awapuni was not content with one visit; he had to go again, and'there was no racing on either day.". ■ '' ■