Opunake Racing Club.

Opunake Times, Volume VII, Issue 345, 31 December 1897, Page 2

Opunake Racing Club.

The annual fixture of the above club takes place on next Monday. Owing to New Year’s day falling on Saturday, it was deemed advisable to postpone the meeting until the following Monday as Saturday is an inconvenient day to bold as a holiday, and also putting the races off till Monday enables horses which have been competing at New Plymouth to recover themselves and gives more time to arrive here. That the decision to adjourn the day on this account was wise is evidenced by the number oi horse boxes which have been engaged by owners from which we anticipate seeing good fields out for each event. We expect before long seeing the club in a position to hold a two days meeting, which would meet more with the approval of horse owners, and bring a better class and a greater number of horses to compete. The club has made a number of further improvements with a view to meeting the accomodation of the public and horse owners. The horse paddock has been considerably enlarged and a permanent picket fence erected on the sea side of it. The entrances have been made more convenient, the gate for the general public being placed at the side of the grand stand at the opposite end of the paddock to where it was last year. A permanent iron roof has been put on the grandstand and several minor improvements made to it. The course has received close attention from the course committee audis]in really good going order. The worst part of it last year was the straight, and of this a good job has been made, the hollows being filled up and well turfed, so that it is now in capital-order. As regards other routine arrangements, the hon. sec., Mr Geo. W. Rogers, as usual has everything well in hand and it only needs Capt, Edwin’s good graces for a fine day to make a most enjoyable day’s outing and a most successful meeting. MONDAY’S RACES. Tips by K.M.S.D. Hurdles, King of the Downs ... 1 Kumi Kumi ... ... 2 Flying. Kaeaea ... ... ... 1 Papakura ... ... 2 O.R.C. Handicap. Crusoe ... ... ... 1 Starlight . ... ... 2 Welter. Papakura ... ... 1 Storm King ... ... 2 New Year Stakes, Crusoe ... ... ... 1 Thelma 2 Farmers’ Plate. Fair Jess ... ... 1 Brenda ... ... ... 2 Electric. The Major ... ... 1 Telephone 2