WELLINGTON MEETING

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 138, 8 December 1931, Page 4

WELLINGTON MEETING

BIG DROP IN STAKES

The Wellington Racing Club has again reluctantly been compelled to make a substantial cut in the stakes to be offered at its meetings, and the programme for the Summer Meeting, which was passed at the monthly meeting of the committee yesterday afternoon, shows a decline in prize money from £11.500 last year to £6285. Two years ago the stakes amounted to £12,500, practically double what is being offered this season. The- principal handicap, the Wellington Cup, has been reduced from 1500 soys (950 soys. and a 100 soy cup to winner) to 750 soys (600 soys to winner). The Telegraph Handicap is 300 soys, as against 750 bovb, and the Wellington Stakes 750 soys, compared with 1000 soys. Other events on' the day are in proportion, the hack races being reduced from 260 soys to 160 soys. . On the second day the Racing Uub Handicap is 500 soys (350 soys to winner), compared with 900 soys (630 soys to winner) last year. The Douro Cup relinquishes its place now as the best endowed hack race in the Dominion, being 300 soys (winner 210 soys), as against 600 soys (winner 420 soys) twelve months ago. The Metropolitan Handicap is 300 soys, as against 550 sovb, and the January 200 soys against 400 soys. On the third day the principal handicap changes are the Consolation Handicap, which has been altered to the Summer Handicap, and whose stake has been reduced from 500 soys to 350 soys; the Summer Handicap has been eliminated, and a welter put in its place; the City Handicap, 500 soys, has been reduced to 250 soys; and, as on the first day, all minor races and two-year-old events share in the reduction. ■ ' ■ Over -the whole programme the reduction is approximately 45 per cent. The position has occasioned the officials and the club much anxious thought, and very careful consideration has been given to it. I The financial position of the club and the present circumstances surrounding racing left no alternative but to make the redueI tiona as announced.