WELLINGTON STEEPLECHASE MEETING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1321, 24 June 1897, Page 24

WELLINGTON STEEPLECHASE MEETING.

That genuine sport will be the order at the Wellington Racing Club's winter meeting next month there can be little doubt, the entries in the majority of instances far exceeding expectations. But the W.E.C. has always been a popular institution, and is so situated, geographically, as to be able to command nominations from north and south. The gathering on the 7th and 10th July is'a sort of combined one, so to speak, Hunt Club events being included in the programme both days. The entries for these races are not as satisfactory as they might have been, there being apparently a scarcity of qualified hunters up the eoast this season. There are doubtless a great number who are ridden at Hunt meetings but they are either regarded as not being fast enough to race, or their owners do not wish to go to the trouble of preparing and sending them away from home. Hunting in Wellington and the Wairarapa districts seems to have become a dead letter, which, from a sporting standpoint, must be regarded as a great pity. There is no finer sport, and its existence has a tendency in the direction of improving the breed of serviceable animals. However, to get back to the Wellington entry list, the most disappointing event is Steeplechase, for which only two have been nominated. This isn't very promising from a financial standpoint, but a precisely similar thing occurred in connection with the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's gathering, only two being entered for the Maiden there also. The Trial Steeplechase on the second day has filled well, 13 figuring on the list. The Two-mile Winter Hurdles, run on the first day, has a fine entry of 23, and the appearance of Donald McKinnon Levanter, Melinite, Muscatel, Prince Charlie and others is evidence of quality. Ilex does not figure, but Misfire, who has been schooled over hurdles lately, may possibly represent the South. The Christchurch animals are presumably being kept until Grand National time. The Wellington Steeplechase comes up for decision on the second day, and a good field will likely be selected from an entry of twenty-two-One notices the names of The Friar, the Egmont Steeplechase winner, Flirt, the Napier Park Steeple winner, Bradshaw, who proved successful in the cross country event at Wanganui, and Levanter who scored in the Great Northern Steeplechase for the second time in succession. Mr Douglas has not nominated Mutiny, but the aged Tiritea and Toreki are set down to carry the black jacket, and Highlander may be sent up from the south. Then there is Eangipai who performed so well at Wanganui, Austral, a former Wellington big stick winner, Dummy, The Plug, the Aucklander Kingswood, Fleetwood, who won both days at 'Wanganui, Claymore, who got home the second day at Egmont, Huntingdon, a winner at Otaki, Much Ado, who scored at Napier Park on the second day, and others. As the majority of the entrants have been showing good form lately, the contest should prove a most interesting one in every respect. The hack events are, as usual, well patronised by owners of firstclass.animals, and perusal of the Parliamentary Handicap and other flat races for alleged batter class heroes reveals the presence of some very speedy animals. I