HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 20 December 1920, Page 6

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our O^n Correspondent.)

j The ketch Wakaiti arrived back on Saturday with a cargo of sleepers from Bruce Bay, after a smart trip. She sailed for Okarit6. The sea this last few days has been like a lake, as a result of the fine,weather) and come small boats crossed the bar on a fishing expedition, but got nothing, except red cod, which .arc very plentiful at present. There is expected to be a Tccord crowd of visitors to Hokitika for the holidays. A good many arc beginning to flock in already. My racing contributor "Furlong" writes: — The long spell of fine weather that we aro enjoying is helping the local trainers to put the finishing touches on their charges. The public arc becoming very interested in the forthcoming meeting, the prices realised for the booths showing how keen competition was. The local club have already realised the benefit of equalising the whole of the grounds by the record price brought by the sale of rights. The outside booth realised £70, while the inside one went close on "£2OO. Everything points to a record meeting. The Hokitika Cup, one mile, is going to be one of the finest races ever wit- ■ hessod here or in any part of tho Coast. The Trotting Club has gone ahead with a leap, as the nominations received by the club constitute a record for the club. Rumour hath it that Mr D. Picdrich has leased his well-known pacer, Maryhill, to Mr F. G. Lynch (trainer to Mr Kitchingham, of Greymouth) and Mr Robertson. This comes as a surprise, as one and all looked forward to this speedy pacer annexing a race or two at the forthcoming _ meeting. Her trials of late have been exceptionally good, as it is believed that before lea-ving F. T. Smith's stable, Maryhill had left the mile behind in 2.2.1. It seems as if Messrs Lynch and Robertson have something to fall back on. Last Christmas Maryhill started three times at- thc local club's trotting meeting, and in the last case, after doing 2.26, she was beaten Iby a nose by Carry On. Maryhill has been handicapped this year on 2.28. It remains to be scon how she will fare. Eron Boy, Black Night and Ahika have arrived here, and all three look really well. Eron Boy claims engagements in ;• c hurdle events. Ahika has eyes on the big mile.