SPORTING.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 3955, 22 January 1900, Page 7

SPORTING.

FOXTON BACKS. The first day’s racing of the Foxton Racing Club’s animal meeting commenced on- Saturday. the departure of the second contingent from Wellington, _ which wat a strong counter-attraction in the country districts, there was a largo attendance, and the visitors had every reason to-bo pleased with their outing, for a capital day’s sport was witnessed. Worry : (the Australian-Bred horse), who had been very unlucky at the Woodyillo and Rangitikci meetings, succeeded in catching the judge’s eye at last, winning the principal event of the day, after a splcn did race. This was Worry’s first win in open company. The only favourite to score during the day was Hauriri in the hurdle race. Ho is a -fine-looking- gelding, a full-brother to that game ana .honest little mare, Marina. The stewards of the club and the secretary, Mi J. R. Whyte, are to be congratulated on their management and excellent arrangements. Mr. John Stevens, M.H.R., was judge, and .gave every satisfaction Over £3OOO passed through the totalisator, being considerably more than tinamount handled on the corresponding day last year.* Appended are the results:— Flying Hack Handicap, of 40 sovs;, three-quarters of a,mile. —-Vibration, 8s; 101 b, 1; Lady Spec, Bst lib, 2; Marvellous, Bst 31b, 3. Also ran—The Dude 9st3lb, First Shot Bst 111 b, Kaimai 7st 131 b, Tota 7st 71b, Pastime ?st 71b, Whitney 7st 51b, King’s Guard, GsfcTOib Tutua 6st 101 b, Narine 6st lOib and Nal Gould 6st 101 b. ’Won .by a length. Dividend, £3 16s. Hack. Hurdles, of 40 sovs;. one mih and three-quarters.-—Hauriri lOst 111 b 1; Rongotea, 9st 131 b, 2; Chance, 9st 71b, 3. Also ran—The Hummer 9st 1211 (baulked), Creswick 9st (fell) and Manakura. Won easily. Dividend, £1 15s. i FoxtomCup, of 100 sovs; one mile and three-quarters.—Worry, by Tormentor —Erustion, 7st 31b (G. Reed), 1; Bona Fide, ■ Oat 31b, 2; Gold Cnp, 7st 71b, 3. Also ran—Toa Sst 51b, Light 7st 91b. Miller-7st 91b and Myra- 6st 71b. ’GoldCup and The Miller led the' field to the home turn, where they were joined by Bona Fide, Whario and Worry’. Afte a great race between the five horses. Worry won cleverly by about three parts of A length. Neither Bona Fde, nor Whario appeared to be, ridden to the best advantage. Time, 2min 14sec. Dividend, £3 9s. Maiden Hack Race, of 25 sovs; one mile. l —The Miner," Bst 111 b, 1; Cave Sst 11b, 2; Alert, Bst 11b, 3. : Also ran—’ Nat Gould, Hero, Fiona, The Plugger. Cashier, Aguinaldo and Van. The Napier gelding won by ia neck, after a good set-to. Dividend, £4 15s. Stewards’ Hack, of 60 sovs; one mile and a distance.-—Whitney, 7st 81b, 1; Lady Spec, 7st olb, 2; Waipuki, 7st 51b. 3. Also ran—Forager 9st 71b, Coolgardie 9sb 21b, Marvellous 7st 91b, Horoeka 7jst-i 31b„ Sherwood 7st 3lb. Won bj a short neck,, a. head between .second and third. Dividend, £l9 Bs. Summer Handicap, of • 50 sovs ; seven furlongs.—Gold Cup, Sst 41b, 1; The Miller, 7sfc 131 b, 2; Marina, Bst 51b, 3. Also' ran—Return Sst Gib and Victoria Gross 7st 31b. Return was made favourite, but was never dangerous. Gold Cup .won by half a length, after an exciting finish. Dividend, £3 10s. Welter Handicap, of 25 sovs; one mile and a . distance. —First Shot, lOst 31b, 1; Black Rose, 9st 51b, 2 ; 9st; 51b, 3. Also ran—Wonder Sst, Chance Sst 101 b andtCave Bst 101 b. The last-named fell shortly after the flag dropped. 'Wo"n comfortably by a length. Dividend, £3 10s. ‘ WELLINGTON RACING CLUB. RACECOURSE IMPROVEMENTS. Visitors to tlx© Hutt Park Racecourse to-day will several important improvements which have been effected since the Spring Meeting in November last. The site where the old totalisator house stood is now cc-

eupied by the ladies’ room, which formerly stood next to the fence or the saddling paddock. The tea tent and kitchen attached will now be found close to the main entrance gates or the lawn towards the western end of that enclosure. The building formerly used as a Weighing room and stewards stand has been removed to the site formerly occupied by the ladies’ room, and has been converted into a commodious lawn totalisator house, where three machines will be at work, and every convenience has been made for paying out and the giving of change. A large new building has been erected, containing a weighing aid » secretary’s room on tre groan r ioor. and stewards and press rooms m the fust floor. In front is a wide balcony, the entrance to which is by 'French casements, for the use- of the stewards and press representatives. This building has been erected about 75ft further towards the eastward, and also stands further back from the front fence than the original structure. The telegraph officials are now provided with first-class accommodation in the building formerly occupied by the jockeys, and the public using this department will be pleased with the increased facilities and space for writing their messages. By placing the new stewards’ building further away from the grandstand, ‘the lawn benefits accordingly, and the increased flat space ought to be much appreciated. Those who do not patronise the lawn enclosure will have ample facilities for investing their money, as the old totalisator house now faces the outside, and there will bo two machines at work there to-day. Air the totalisators will he worked with one total, and only one dividend will be declared. This is the same system as prevails on nearly all other racecourses. As all the above works have only been' in ‘hand for- seven •• weeks, it is needless to say that- the finishing tenches have not been put on, so the stewards hope that their patrons will withhold their criticism until the completion of the works, and put up with any little inconveniences that may occur in consequence. In fact, there arc quite a number of alterations that are ■nerMy temporary, but it is hoped'.that by the Autumn ‘Meeting everything will be satisfactorily completed. ' l :^■ RA(^.G;. ( v ! 'Great interest is centred in to-day’s racing at Hutt, Park, and a large number of sportsmen ..are., in theVity ■in anticipation of*, witnessing the Wellington .Cup. Train arrangements of a, complete i-character have been made. Trains will depart, from the Wellington Station for the racecourse at 10.54 a.m., 11.19 a.m., 11.42 a.mi, 12.10 p.m., 1.0 p.m. and, 2.15 p.m. The 10.54 a.m., 11,42 a.m. and 1.9 p.m. trains will run through without >stoppmg at any station, Return., trains will leave the racecourse at 5 p.m. and fifteen and thirty minutes after the last race. The train leaving the course fifteen minutes after the last race will not stop at any station,: The first-class fares from Wellington are 4s 6d, and the second-class (trucks) 3s 6d. “TASMAN’S” SELECTIONS. Anniversary Handicap, one mile;— Ideal, Coin, Will-d’ : tlio-Wisp. ■ Maiden Plate,’ onp mile.—Famous, Dcvringshot, Uila. Wellington Cup, one mile and a half.—Boreas, Te Hupnku, 'Djiu Djiri. The Wellesley Stakes, four furlongs/ I—l’hooka, 1 —I’hooka, Blue Water, Canine duel; : President’s Handicap, one mile and a furlong.—Palaver, 'Ambrosia, ’ Uila. Fii>st .Hack Handicap) one mile and a furlong.A-ljeah', Rdscplpt, Right • Moral. . Nursery, Handicap.—Thp Shannon, Mehta,’ Macintosh, ' 1 , v Telegraph Handicap, three-quarters of a uiilc.—Jabber, Derringshot, Blazer,

At the Tuapeka: races on Thursday, last, Erin, The limit horse,, won the Farcy ■well-Trot.) - There-wms only one investor out of , 115. Crossali’s protest; mu the ieoro of inconsistency, was upheld by a majority of- one. The owner of Erin appeals to the Trotting, Association. Acceptances for; tho.Egmout Racing Club’s meeting close to-day.