Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 290, 20 January 1906, Page 19

Turf Topics.

By the "Old 'Un."

SO much has been written during the past few months with reference to the Wellington, Racing Club's new racecourse at Trentham that racegoers must be quite familiar with all details in connection- with the club's resolve to provide for their patrons a racecourse and appointments worthy of the chief city of the* colony. That they have succeeded will be amply demonstrated when visitors detrain at Trentham to-morrow. At a cost of some £36,000, th© executive of tlhe W.R.C. have transformed a. stump-studded common into an ideal park and racecourse, and thereupon is erected all modern requisites usually associated with an up-to-date racecourse. The buildings alone east £16,000. The main grandstand is an imposing structure, and has a frontage of 150 ft., and seating accommodation for two thousand. The people's, stand (outside) will seat more persons than did the old grandstand, which for years did duty at the Hutt Park. A luncheon-room 100 ft. in length, with ample provision in the shape of a commodious kitchen and scullery, is such asi would gladden the heart of any racecourse caterer. During the past, readers of these notes have received many good tips, but the most genuine tip ever vouchsafed is "Patronise the opening meeting at Trentham to-morrow." The pleasure experienced will far exceed that which pervades the race-eoeir who has succeeded m. landing a fat dividend. Trains will leave Wellington every few minutes, and passengers can be comfortably seated on the stand withm fifty minutes from the time they entrain at the Wellington station. From the number of horses engaged at the meeting, it is safe' to predict that some high-class racing will be witnessed. Achilles, Nightfall, Martian, Vladimir, Paritutu, Putty, Auratue Solution, andl Armistice are well-known performers, whose names, are household words to those who take an interest in, racing. The Wellington Cup race can fairly be termed an mterprovmcial contest. Otago is represented by Vladimir, Auckland by Putty, Hawke's Bay by Melodeon and Lyrist, Taranaki by Par'tutu, Canterbury by Nightfall, Martian, Makaroff, and Delaware, Manawatu by Auratus, Wanganui by Armistice, and Wellington by Achilles, Solution, Black Reynard, and some lesser lights. Each horse has its partisans, and at the present time excitement runs high as to the probable winner. The minor events promise to be no less interesting. Next to the* Cup, most interest is oeniaed in the Telegraph Handicap, by reason of the fact that thousands of persons have taken double wagers, Cup and Telegraph Handicap, and many more will back their fancips for the same events on a double tofcar I'sator which has been set up on, the Trentham lawin for those who desirp to fill their pockets with gold at the outlay of a modest sovereign. An Australian firm have elected on the course their patent electric totalisator, the mechanism of which is, in itself, a novelty. This machine works automatically, and i-egisters 36,000 tickets in an hour. There are now upwards of one hundred horses' quartered in the neighbourhood of Trentham and' the Lower Hutt. These comprise the cream of the colony's racers, and those racegoers privileged to witness the Welling ton Racing Club's summer meeting should experience an equine treat. Sir G-eo. Clifford, unfortunately, has nothing m his stable fit to compete in the Cup race. He will, however, be represented in most of the minor events. The Hon. J. D. Ormond's colours will be seen out in the Cup, and he will, also be represented in most of the handicap events with oir Tristram, Medallist, Mobility, and Tondergbie. Taken as a whole, the class of horses which are gathered together for the Wellington Club's summer meeting is worthy of the "occasion, and would do credit to any racecourse in the Australasian colonies. Those trainers who have inspected the Trentham racecourse speak in high terms of its dimensions and formation, and they are unanimous in agreeing that should the weather hold fine, some fast times will be put up on Saturday. There is just a tendency to complain that the ground! upon which the horses will fight out their battles is

too solid, but the caretaker lias been instructed to freely use the water which has been laid on to the racecourse, and this should take the "sting" out of the fcurf, and assist to (readier it suitable for the visiting horses. A section of the sporting public have already lost heavily over the meeting. Those who indulge in ante-post double bettinig started off by backing Savoury, Auratus, and Makaroff for the Oup, whilst Conuiform, Master Alix, and Solution were favourite selections for the Telegraph Handicap. Savoury was withdrawn m favour of his stable companions, Nightfall and 1 Delaware ; Auratus broke down, and Makaroff 's owner overlooked the date of the Oup final payment. Thus many early backers were left lamenting. They can, however, console themselves with the fact that the club have erected a double totalisator at the Trentham course, and they can there back to their hearts' content, and get a .run for their money. As the result of a recent visit to Trentham, I can assure Lance readers that the club's executive .have neglected nothing that is required' to make a visit to the meeting an enjoyable one, and if only the weather conditions are favourable, the club's patrons will have cause to looV back with pleasure on their first visit to Trentham racecourse. • ♦ • Tips by "The Tout." The acceptances for the Wellington Racing Club's summer meeting are excellent, numbering considerably more than last year. The owner of Makaroff unfortunately overlooked' the date of the final payment for the Cup, and, in consequence, his horse will be unable to fulfil his Cup engagement, although he is at present quartered 1 on the course. Amongst the horses engaged at the forthcoming meeting are representatives of all the principal racing stables in the colony, andi it is with much diffidence that I undertake the task of suggesting probable winners. However, havirbcr in view the form exposed dturing the past month. I suggest the following horses as likely to run prominent in their respective engagements : — Anniversary Handicap. — Clanchattan or Boiis. Ruapehu Hack Handicap. — Apa or Aotea. Wellington Cup. Putty, 1 Paritutu, 2 Achilles, 3. Trentham Hack Hun die Handicap. — Talume or Geologist. Telegraph Handicap. — Petticoat or Petrovna. Tongariro Hack Handicap.— Lady Wayward or Maui. Nursery Handicap. — Moscow or Ivanoff. Electric Handicap. — Petrovna or Ailsa. * * * The Foxton annual race meeting ta^es plaoe on Monday and Tuesday next. The following are my selections : Foxton Cup. — Bourasque or Submarine. '^'ectric Handicap.— Pretty Maid or Probability. Hack Hurdle Handicap. — Apiti or Monarque. Flying Handicap. — St. Claimer or Captain Shannon. Herrington Welter. — Capulet or Kuroki. Hack Welter. — Bonheur or The Ruler.