TROTTING ADVANCE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 108, 2 November 1929, Page 11

TROTTING ADVANCE

NEW HUTT PARK COURSE

THE OFFICIAL OPENING

The official opening ceremony following the extensive alterations which have been made to the -Wellington. -Trotting Club's course at .Hutt Park was carried out to-day in the presence of a largo ■attendance, by the Minister of Internal Affairs (the H0n..3?. A. de la Perrelle), who was introduced by the Minister of Defence and. member for the district (H.c llpu. T. M. Wilford). Mr. de la i'en-ello recalled the days when the ciub raced on the Pctone Recreation Lii-ound, and said that Wellington as a trotting centre had suffered for many years through lack, of permits. It was lai-gely clue to : tlie untiring de.votion of Mr. It W. Sliort and others that the club was kept alive. In 1916 a move was" made to Hutt Park, then practically a wilderness, and since.then splendid progress had been made. He was informed that the club had spent £.12,000, and one had only to compare the new course with that previously raced upon to realise the importance, of the occasion. When the final touches were given to the course there would probably be nothing better in A Tew Zealand. The Minister quoted figures showing that in. 1922, at its one-day meeting.-the club gave in stakes £1500 and a cup valued at £100. The amount which passed through the totalisator was £20 - 534. During the 1928-29 racing year with four days, the amount in stakes was £8775 and a cup valued at £100 while £111,415 went through the totallsntoi-. In conclusion, the Minister heartily congratulated the club on its fine course and the Hutt Park Committee on having such valuable tenants. He then formally declared the course open. Three cheers were given for the Minister, and three for the.president, Mr R. A. Armstrong, and the officials.