SPORTING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16243, 28 November 1914, Page 10

SPORTING.

FORBURY PARK TROTTING CLUB. SPRING MEETING POSTPONED. TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. The spring meeting of the Forbury Park Trotting Club, which was to have commenced yesterday, was postponed until Wednesday and Saturday of next week by the stewards, who held a meeting at the course shortly before the advertised time of the start of the first race. A great number of people who had assembled at .Forbury had tnus to return home. Realising that the arrangement made would not suit their convenience, about SO horse-owners and trainers held a meeting at 5 o'clock yesterday, when it was decided to wait on the stewards of the Trotting Club last night in order to ask that the decision arrived at earlier in the day bo abandoned. The stewards received the deputation shortly after 8 p.m., when it was explained that, should the stewards adhere to their original decision, it would mean that the numerical strength of the fields in the different events would be considerably lessened, as the owners could not afford to bo away from their homes the length of time that the postponement would necessitate. They had no desire to dictate to the club, which they recognised had to consider the public. By holding the races earlier in the week — say, Monday and Tuesday or Tuesday and Wednesday—the interests of both the horseowners and trainers and the public would be considered. Failing this, a great many horses would bo sent home next morning. They did not want to use any coercive measures towards the club, and they felt that m the interests of the sport the stewards would see the reasonableness ot their request. The deputation withdrew, and after a deliberation lasting for about 10 minutes the stewards decided to rescind their previous decision, and to hold the races on Tuesday and Wednesday. Upon the announcement being made the deputation gave three hearty cheers for the club.