RACING AT APIA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 201, 15 July 1936, Page 9

RACING AT APIA.

A NOVEL MEETING

(Special to United Press Association.) APIA, July 13. A race meeting in honour of tho annua! visit of the Monowai with tourists from Australia and New Zealand was held by tho Apia Turf Club this afternoon. Among the guests were the leader of the New Zealand goodwill mission, Hon. P. Langstone, and Afro Langstone, Afr J. O’Brien and Airs O’Brien, and Air'Arthur Mulligan, secretary to the delegation, and Airs Mulligan. The weather was showery, the club being unfortunate as up till to-day no rain had fallen for several weeks. Nevertheless the attendance, which was about 1500, was considered excellent.

Tho racecourse is situated in delightfill surroundings, the whole area occupying 40 acres and resembling the fairway of a well-kept golf course at its best. There were eight events on tho programme and all were keenly contested with a short head separating first and second on several occasions. In somo races there were as many as 18 horses. Tho animals were ridden bareback by enthusiastic young Samoans, who used the whip vigorously from start to finish with no letup at any stage. Tho principal race, the Monowai Handicap, of one mile or a little over, once round tho course, was won in two minutes two seconds. The winner received £lO, the second horse £5, and the third £2. The totalisator, at which two shilling tickets only were purchnseable, handled £4lO. Successful punters received a modest return. There were no sensational dividends. The president of tho club, Hon. A. G. Smyth, M.L.C.,.was warmly congratulated by Messrs Langstone and O’Brien upon.the manner in which the meeting was conducted. Air Langstone promised tho officials that ho would use his best endeavours to acquire a stud horse in Now Zealand on behalf c-f the club.