NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8683, 17 March 1914, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By “Finland.”) Although there is a great deal of work to be done on the Hastings racecourse yet, the contractor (Mr Luttrell, of Christchurch) is to bo complimented on the rapid strides made during the short time the work has been on hand, and he expects to have it completed in time for the Hawkes Bay Cup meeting in May. Part of the lake has been filled in, and on it stands 'a three-storeyed building, the top floor of which will be used as a stewards', members’ and press stand. The middle flat contains the secretary’s offices, while the ground floor will be utilised as a weighing room and jockeys’ room. Access from the stewards and members’ stand to the main grandstand will be gained by means of a overhead bridge similar to the one on the Biccarton course. The public stand is strongly constructed of ferroconcrete, and has seating accommodation for 1500 people. A balcony will run round the back of the grandstand from which admission may be gained to the stewards’ and members’ stand, luncheon rooms and booth. The whole of the ground floor is taken up by a commodious booth and public luncheon robm. The totalisator house, which forms almost a complete circle, is a large, airy building, containing fortyfour pay-out windows. The public, therefore, are amply catered for in this respect, and there should he no complaints regarding the paying out of dividends. The old grandstand, which for so many years did service as the main grandstand, has been removed to the outside enclosure, and should bo a welcome addition to that portion of the racecourse. The old weighingroom has been converted into an ambulance room, and the loose-boxes will be removed to a part of the carriage paddock facing Southland road. Large up-to-date lavatories are convenientlysituated, and a new 6 feet iron fence, which greatly improves the appearance of the track, has been erected, and extends from the top to the bottom of the straight. The foundations, of a tea kiosk (which’ is badly needed) have been laid, and with the gang of men (something like a couple of hundred) employed great headway is expected to be made within the next month.

Athenic (Traquair—Aragoel), which broke down in Sydney some time back, has been blistered on both fore-leg joints and turned out at Longlands. There hare already been a large number of owners anxious to book a service to the son of Traquair, but his_ owner has declined to take any outside mares, and he will be-limited to six or seven of Mr E. J. Watt’s best matrons. Mr E. J. Gothard, who for a number of years has acted as secretary to the Woodvill© Racing Club, has resigned his position. W. Chaeffe, who was up on Okahu in the Qmatu Hurdles at Napier on Saturday, broke his collarbone when that horse fell at the second to last fence. The gelding was so far behind the leaders that the public lost sight of him, and half of them didn’t know he had fallen.

Thera were ia. lot of poor horsemen in the saddle at the Napier Park meeting, and in consequence there was a good deal of careless riding. Otherwise the meeting went off without a hitch. The Napier Park Racing dub must be more than satisfied with the record turnover for the two days’ racing. The fields each day were good, and the finishes In most of the events' were close and exciting. The club have also, made vast improvements to their course hy enlarging the carriage paddock to almost double its original size and making a special entrance for pedestrians, which enables them to gain admission to the saddling paddock without having to wade through traffic of all descriptions at considerable risk, Mr Woods, who was so badly injured on the Hastings racecourse when Waipureka fell with him some four.or five months ago while doing exercise, is still in a very bad way, and is only able to get about in an invalid’s chair. Ho is still an inmate of the Napier hospital, and is likely to be for some time, as both his legs from the hip down -are paralysed. Hatana, with a reserve of one hundred guinea© on him, was put up for auction after, the hurdle race at Napier Park on Saturday, but he failed to find a new Owner.

Horn, the yider of Berg in the Telegraph Hack Handicap on Saturday, got hung up in the tapes, and his mouth was so severely cut that it W'as found necessary to put in four stitches. The barrier in use at present at Napier has long been condemned, and maybe the club will now do away with it. Good Night has been leased by Mr W. 0% Stead to Mr Beamish, of Whana Whsna station, for the forthcoming season. Ha will probably be recommissioned ofterwards.

E. Howe was a passenger fi‘om Napier by the express yesterday, and left the same evening for Christchurch on his way to the Waimate meeting. One of the finest-looking yearlings being educated at Hastings is Eligible, the fnll-brCther to Bon Ton, which he much resembles in appearance. He is bigger than his elder relative. T. Quinlitan did not, as was at first intended, take in the full-brother to Blacka.il after the Wanganui meeting, bub will Start On him almost immedi-

ately. Maricia, the Marble Arch colt purchased by the same trainer at Auckland at Christmas-time, has greatly improved since being added to the list, and is growing into ia nice youngster. Our King, which has "been in H. Hickey’s stable for some little time, has left that establishment, and will again bo taken to Gisborne. Our King has had quite a number of trainers, and should nearly have a record in that respect. J. Bond, of Patea, purchased Formulate during the Napier Park meeting for stud purposes. The price paid is said to be 300 guineas, but it is doubtful if that price is correct, _as it is stated Mr Bond was only willing to go 200 guineas for a suitable horse. When Merrie Lad fell at Wanganui he was badly cut about the shoulder, and is not likely to race for some time. Mr Haldane, who races the gelding, is, I understand, selling all his horses, as he intends going for a trip to the Old Country. It is reported that Haskayno and Montcalm are shortly to be put over hurdles, so the Hon. J. D. Ormond should have a very useful team of “ Xeppers ” for the winter, as Bolliu, Witched, Peary, and Idealism will also represent'him. Frank Howard, who was injured when Paladies was killed in the AA’anganui Steeplechase, is now employed at the Railway AVorkshops in Auckland.