A Visit to the Egmont Racecourse

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2329, 18 January 1893, Page 2

A Visit to the Egmont Racecourse

I Teident.J A visit; to the racecourse is a very pleasant way of spending a couple of hours; more especially is snob, the case to one who has but few opportunities given him of enjoying a little relaxation from the worry and tDrmoil of a busy indoor occupation ; so it oame about that I availed myself of the invitation of the courteous and obliging seoretary to the olub to pay a visit of inspection to the grounds, where, I bad been informed, a »ood many improvements and renovations had lately been carried out. The near approach of the Egmont Racing Club's Summer Meeting of 1893 makes it a fitting opportunity to make a few remarks anent the raceoourse and its pretty surroundings. Seated in one of Mr. Flynn's well-appointed "turn-outs," it did not take long to reach the scene ; but on the way I could not refrain from admiring the pr6tty homesteads (unfortunately too few) and their surroundings, and the visible signs ot prosperity everywhere apparent. Nature evidently intended the land about Hawera to carry a large population, but at present the holdings are far too large to bring about such a desired consummation ; let me express a hope that ere long things in this respeot may be changed. Arrived at the course, one is forcibly reminded what a great change a short time has wrought in the appearance of the racecourse grounds, and what a big stride the club has made sinoe it took its initial start a few years ago. Probably no olub in the colony has made greater progress in raoing matters during the past ten years than the Egmont Bacing Olub, whose central situation makes it an attraction to lovers of the sport of horsa-iaoing. The management, too, is in good hands, and the popularity of the olub i 3 hardly likely to deteriorate. In 1882, the amount given away in prizes was £267. For the racing season of 1893 the club's summer and winter programmes total £1650— that is, £1200 for the former and £450 for the winter meeting — truly a liberal bill-of-fare for a country club. It was but a few years since when not a tree was to be seen in the vicinity of the grounds ; but what a change ! Now a perfect forest meets the eye, and the effect is certainly very pleasing, and the owner of the freehold (Mr. Fantham) has the pleasure of seeing the results of bis and the club's work. The trees around the course have grown up wonder* fully well of late, making the coarse one of the prettiest in New Zealand. > On entering the grounds there is apparent j evidence of muoh care and attention 3 having been bestowed on them, and the j clnb is fortunate in possessing officers who take an interest in keeping pace with the ' times. Backed up by a competent and I painstaking caretaker, there is not much a more to be desired in the way of improve0 ments — a little floriculture would have a pretty effect, and would be muoh appreciated by raoegoers generally, and more especially by the fair sex. Improvements g have been pretty numerous this year, 0 oarpenters and other workmen having c been engaged for the past two months it putting things in good order and condition ; and it is now such a snug, pretty, and II complete racing property that all whc have taken an interest in the welfare oi racing in this district may feel in it th< 3 greatest pride. Inside the'entrance gate the road between it and the course hai , been ploughed and formed, and a boart ' erected giving notioe to trainers. A description of the course will be interesting \ m especially so as we are continually receiv ing additions to our population. It is i !> little over a mile in circumference, with i X width of 66 feet, and at present is in gooc »f form. A good deal of filling has beet r undertaken in the straight, fifty loads o: c earth having been deposited on thai ( portion recently. A full half ot the course '• proper has lately been rolled three time* '• with a heavy roller of five tons weight, |. drawn by a traction engine, and the c beneficial effect ia plainly to be seen, Both sides of the fence from the distance post to beyond tbe grand stand have Deen painted white, and the tops of the po9tE cut off level with the railing. At the present time the course is divided into five lengths, by using the Pieroy sheepproof fence, and the sheep are kept in one r of these compartments until the grass is B sufficiently bare, and then shifted on to B the next, and so on. Never did the course , look better than it does now. The turf is 9 a beautifully bright green on the lawn, , the course, and the training tracks, and 1 when it gets its finishing touch it will be as smooth as a billiard table and as soft . and close as velvet. Besides the course . there are two training traoks, each of which is 83 feet in width. The inner t part of the inside track is tbe plough . gallop, and it is now first rate ; the outer * grans track is, however, rather rough, and j is only used in wet weather. It is conf templated to plough it up, and convert it !_ into a plough track for a time at least, sowing the present plough into grass, but ■ eventually returning to the present ordar of j things. Too much praise, however, cannot ; to given to Caretaker Harrison lor theexoeli lent grass gallop on the next track ; it is, \ indeed, a capital one, and quite equal, if I not superior, to tbe course proper. This I is intended to be used only for a week or ; so before the convincing day, so that ; trainers will have a good opportunity of I judging the capabilities of their oharges. The one alongside it though is in fair condition, and trainers will have very little ground for complaint. The buildings and fences throughout the entire grounds are now being painted, to which it is intended to give two coats of paint, and, it is needless to say, when finished, will be a great improvement. ? No alterations have been undertaken to the saddling paddock, but I noticed that the willow trees which have been planted on the western side are making some growth, and will give much, needed shelter from the rays of the sun in course of a short time. Next year the present stewards and weighing-room will )e removed, and a more commodious building erected on the same site, which will also contain a press room, a boon which will be appreciated. Tbe top of the structure, which will bo reached by a staircase, will be for the use of stewards, pressmen, &o. A railed stand* alongside he judge's box for the use of the timekeeper, has been erected ; and an eleotrio cablet enclosed in totara boxing, has been laid underground from tbe jodge's box to the totalisator house, which connects with a bell, and by pressing a button tbe bell is ..aeti \n motion to denote tbe-etarting;of tbe horses. This, was a. necessary improve- ; ment, and will obviate the necessity there j arose for shouting I'.TM're off." The , stand has been thoroughly overhauled and j and renovated— new railing having been t ptrtin'at the back and at both 1 ends. New j seating has also been put in, and both G staircases have reoeived a deal of attention, £ a fot of new woodwork having been pat in. $ The flooring, roof, and seats will.be painted, j and the stand will then look better, and j brighter than it has ever. done. , From, t •fiert) to the totalisator faous* is but a step. r and farther improvements -have been q carried -out . at tbis point., The; building E :b»otheea lined throughout,' and con- ♦] veniences in the shape iofWdrawers, x counters, &c. have been supplied. The t caretaker baß been beatifying v the little r threef'Oornered plots inr ''front 5 of the « totalisator office, in two of which are i the letters "•E:R.O: u ;priqkea!J6ut with I box. The' eentfe design 'represents grand t old Egmont. and the whole baa a pleasing & Bfftefi, aid will look" very ipre'ttyiJ when further advanced id jjrowth. A much- ' needed telegraph office has been built, the Bitwof which is at the rear of the totalisator office ; and here again tbe convenience of al

both telgrapbistq and the pnblio his been; Studied. There is plenty of room, capitallight, and abundance of shelving, tables^ and desks, so that there will now be no 4 room for complaint. The fence at the right of the entrance gate to the lawn if now being removed. It is intended to shift it back some 20 feet, which will bring it in a line with the end of the newly-erected telegraph office. This will give increased space in tbe lawn. The convenience of the public has been fully consulted by the introduction of cst? arrangements. The carpentering tsork in connection with the improvements has been performed in a satisfactory, manner'" by Messrs. Searlingfend Warren, and the painting work is being oarried out by Messrs. Howard. It will be. seen from the above tbat tbe arrangements are generally complete ; and with tbe good nominations already before us, coupled with fine weather during the meetiag, the olub, I trust, will oome out with a big credit balance, with which it will oe able to recoup itself for the heavy outlay already incurred, and also thatlt may. sm its way to additional improvements- ere another racing season comes round. ~" Tbe steeplechase course, too, I noticed, has received some attention, bat I will defer any farther reference till later on.