PUKEKOHE RACECOURSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19195, 8 December 1925, Page 6

PUKEKOHE RACECOURSE.

WORKS IN PROGRESS. BY PHAETON. In tlio course of a rumble lit Pukekohe on Saturday last in the company of Messrs. William arid James Koulston the opportunity presented itself of making * visit to the Franklin Racing Club's property, to which 1 was motored by Mr. A. J. J upper, an enthusiastic member of the body tnat has set out on a bold scheme for promoting racing at Pukekohe. f l ho work of grading the race track at certain points, I found, had boon completed, and the railing of the track in a substantial form has now been undertaken, and is well advanced. The race track is a mile course, soft, wide, and provided with straight run-outs for the starts. It has two straights, a furlong and a-hulf lons, rind two bends with a radius of eight chains In races over a piiio and a-rjuarter horses will have a straight run of a furlong and throt'-(juartors before reaching a turn and that will be viewed us especially popular. In the scheme of works projected provision is made for a grass training track and also a plough track, each 25ft.. wide, so that it will bo recognised matters havo been viewed in comprehensive form. The soil at Pukekohe is particularly suited for racing, as it does not L'et hard in the summer or get puggy in the winter. Pukekoho should therefore be a first-class course and should provide a good training ground, and, being convenient, the new course should relievo a lot of tho congestion on tho training tracks around Auckland. Besides these owners and trainers will welcome an opportunity of training on good tracks, where they are away from tliH concreta roads and motor risks and also tho stringent by-laws they are working under in some districts. With regard to the buildings necessary to eQuip the Pukekohe course, tenders have already been called for the erection v' members' stand, judges box, totalizator house, and other appointments, and it is hoped to put these works in hand at. an early date. Tho buildings decided upon will bo on a natural grandstand on the rise at tho head of tho straight, and tho lawns will, when finished, have a slope of one in ten to the course rails, thus allowing everyone on tho,lawn a chance of seeing a race. Tree planting (or shelter on tho railway side of the property is contemplated, and altogether it can be said the committee of tho Franklin Racing Club is looking well ahead in placing matters on a substantial foundation for tho promotion of racing and sport at Pukekohe. NOTES FROM ELLEKSLIE. BY ARCHER. The two-year-old Subdivision, who has been spelling, has been taken in hand again by W. 11. Patterson. Subdivision is growing into a fine big colt and is in splendid order after his holiday. 11. Wiggins has been engaged to _ ride Licinius In the Railway Handicap. Licinius was a brilliant two-year-old last season, but has not yet shown winning form this season, although ho has been twice third in (our starts. Licinius finished sixth in the Stewards' Handicap at Riccarton with 7.7, and has 7.1 in the Railway Handicap. The hurdler Narrow Neck has resumed work at Ellerslie under the direction of W. t• all. Narrow Neck has been spelling for some time and is very big and healthy. Sea Comet was given a course of physic during the week-end and is having a few days on the easy list. Sea Comet shaped promisingly among the hack hurdlers at Talsapuna and should make a useful jumper. It is stated that Bright Day and Bright Knight will race at the Mariawatu summer meeting. Both geldings are feeling the benefit of recent racing and should earn some money on their southern trip. Bright Knight raced prominently at. laumarunui on Saturday and should reach the winning list very soon. Horses from J. T. Jamieson's stable were in strong demand with backers at jPaumarunui, and Letter of Credit, Dress Circle, and Le f houcas started favourites in their respective engagements, while Steel Star was a good second fancy for the Cup. 1' oil oweis of the stable must have had a losing day, as Letter of Credit was the only one to win. and her dividend would not recoup them for other losses. Letter of Credit had her first outing this season at Taumarnnui and accounted for the Matapuna Hack Handicap. Letter of Credit lacks size, but she is a neat tilly. with a good deal of pace, and should pay her way among the hack sprinters at the country meetings. Arch Ooal is proving a useful performer at the country meetings and scored his thiM success this season when he accounted for the Kakahi Handicap at Taumarnnui on Saturday. Arch Opal has now won his way out of the hack class and in future will have to race in open company. An interesting fact in connection with his winning performances is that he has notched four of his six wins at Taumarnnui and the other two at To Rapa. 11. L. Russell is still located at Tnkapuna with Civility, Siaosi, Mount Marta, and Berinthia. who arc all reported to be doing nicely. The following riding engagements have been made for the Waipa meeting: --11. Dulieu, Gold Jacket, Finelli, Marble Crag, and Chirrup: R. McT avish. Kmgtield and Pegaway: A McCormac, Bute Sound; and W. Bagby, King Smock, and J. T. Jamiebou's representatives. Riding engagements announced for tho Auckland Cur> are as follow:—W. Bagby, Spoon v: 11. Wiggins. Steel Bar; W. Jones, Star Hanger; and H. Dulieu, Cold Jacket. For the Railway Handicap the following engagements are announced:—W, Bagby, Gold Acre: H. Dulieu Finelli: and R. McTavish, Pelham.