DONCASTER RACECOURSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20088, 27 October 1928, Page 18

DONCASTER RACECOURSE.

WORLD WONDER PROMISED.

TO fcOST NEARLY £300,000.

[from our special correspondent.] LONDON, Sept. 17,

In this age of miracles even the racecourse i» not immune from revolutionary changes. The Doncaster course, the scene of many historic equine contests, is to be converted into a veritable fairyland. It is to be the wonder racecourse of the world. Lawns are to be laid out and adorned with beautiful flowers; "tote" bureaux are to be set up everywhere; an aeroplane landing will be provided, to , say nothing of the world's largest grandstand; and the bookmakers are to be banished to special offices at the back, which change, I am afraid, will not meet with a sweet reception from the bookie. The old drama, the pagentry and colour, are to be replaced by the new. The picturesque panorama in the forefront of tbo stage, as it were, is to bo relegated to Hie background, and'so the course will be scientifically " Hobotised." Aeroplanes bringing celebrities and the newly rich will lake the place of the more accustomed transportation on terra firnia, and the quondam noises of the gesticulating, hortatory, and occasionally damnatory bookmakers will bo substituted by the music of bands on the lawns and by the whirr of 'planes. Everything, it is forecast, will be " like a great garden party."

Smooth efficiency is the watchword of the scientific age. but there arc occasions when we grow sentimental and retrospective, which, however, in the forward-looking age of mechanisation and scientific wonders is not to be encouraged. The new Doncaster will and must evolve a romantic aura of its own.

If the old tumult and the shouting die upon the air, a new concatenation will arise. When the Shah is modernising sartorial swathes of his womenfolk, it is not out of the picture that the swan song of tho bookmakers is to be heard ii} the near future.

The electric totalisator to be installed is the Australian Julius machine, which, electrically contrived, will cost £IOO,OOO. Apart entirely from the aerodrome, land has been acquired for a new motor park, and a 20ft. subway under the course iis pro posed to give people access to the silver ring without tramping the grass underfoot. The whole scheme is conceived with the view to providing every possible faculty for racegoers and anticipating the future. Under the grandstand there will be shops of all kinds, a railway inauiry office, a police station, a bank, a typhis loom, a writing room and an ambulance room. A special entrance will bo provided for the King. The total cost of the whole scheme, including the installation of tho " tote," will be nearly £300,000.

Canterbury meeting. i SCRATCHINGS POSTED. [by telegraph.—press association] CHRI3TCHURCH, Friday Scratching for tho Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting' are:— White Fang.—All engagements, at 9 a.m. to-day. The Hawk and Goshawk.—Stewards' Handicap, at 3.10 p.m. to-day.

WAIKATO HUNT RACES.

TAXATION AND PROFIT.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

CAMBRIDGE. Fridav Government, taxation in connection with the Waikato Hunt nieetiiio on Labour Damounted to £2llO 10s. made up as follows:—Tolalisalor tax, £768 163 (3d: dividend tax, £l-120 2s: filakes tax. £128: amusement lax, £lO9 lis 6d. Tho profit on the meetinc was about £2OO.

TURF IN AUSTRALIA. WIN FOR TORLONI A. Australian and N.Z. Press Association. (Received October 26, 11.15 pjn.) MELBOURNE, Oct. 26. The jockey Bob Lewis is ill with influenza. Valparaiso is returning to Sydney. Torlonia. which is engaged in the Oaks, won the Yara Glen Handicap to-duy.