WELLINGTON NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2201, 7 May 1896, Page 34

WELLINGTON NOTES.

By Onlooker.

April 25.

Mr F. Trask, of Nelron, has bought of Mr F. J^artin, 0 Review, -winner of the Nclsud Cup. Price, 30sova.

Tuggart's stables. th» Hutt. is the address now of Birmun.

Deprived of their Autumn race meeting . through the recent trouble betwixt the Premier ftnd the W.R.C., soma of our spojts, in "thinking things out," dropped upon the Erunner affair as » means to their end, and now an agitation is on to get up a Bmnner Benefit Race meeting on the Mutt Park racecourse at an early date This is likely to eventuate, and no doubt the needy will be greatly benefited thereby. Since I last wrote you the Ti-emier has beon approached by a deputation from thu Otakia Club {or a permit to use the totalisator at their meeting- The Premier referred thorn to the metropolitan club. He said on the subject : "The metropolitan club had imposed conditions on the Mu«terton-Opaki Club which had preveuted that club using tho permit given by the Government. . 3?he metropolitan club had been given the option , of withdrawing tbe condition imposed, but had not done so, and the Government must continue to refuse to issue any permits." , to / April 30. Apparently the officials of the Wellington Trotting Club reckou that there is more to be gained by holding their meeting upon two such popular days as Wednesday and Saturday (each of which is a half-holiday to different sections of workers in this city) than in holding the meeting upon consecutive days ; although there seems a big blank In between — half a week. However, though our Bports seemed to be cravine for a meeting as a man who was "out last night" piues for a drink, yet the diversion they seek does not seem to lie in the trot line/" for, blessed yesterday with a real Dice day and mighty little zephyr (a fact 0. the attendance wan small, there was very little enthusiasm, owing, no doubt (to a wet week making the going slow), and there wasn't even the usual incitement of a few lively protests. Really, trot(ting is at last becoming as respectable as a cricket snatch, for, barring an ignorance on the part of tTaiawhio te Tau. the meeting was free from the "venal." It appears that Tau had - nominated and ridden, once upon a time, a horse at an unregistered meeting at Newtown, and on his Bluenose winning the Pony Handicap yesterday, T. Maeon (whose Beauty came in second) remembered this little history, and the , Maori looked blue when the stewards announced his nose out of joint, and Beauty was declared to have been the winning beast. 'Twas ever thus— ignorance is no plea with stewards, and tho ■takes go to the fellow with the best memory. Then as to the state of the " tote " at the meeting, showing the thermometer of public Interest. Only £583 figured on the seven events. A miserable spec. And on the first event things began right down at zero, if" not 'beneath even ' that point. Just cast your eye on this detail : — Maiden Handicap (saddle), of 20sovo. Two miles— DMrJ. E. Mouattfs Prince, scr (Owner), 1 ; IMr SB. Pycroft's Tussock, 12* ec (Owner), 2. Also Jtarted : 0 Flossie Bsec, 0 Moonbeam lOsec. Won jeasily. Time, 6nain 12sec. There was only one Investor on the machine. The man who put his trust on Tussock got back his soy— minus two bob I

The racing all through was tame— not enough CO in it to make one shift their hat right back or bull one's hands out of pocket. When Edwards," in the big event, called out " Alice, where art chou ?" she raised her head and winked a " cert " »t the judge, the result being :—

Wellington Trotting Club Handicap (harness), of 75sovs. Two miles. —89 Mr M. Edwards's Alice, 32sec (Ownsr), 1 ; 37 Mr W. T. Cliff's Hazeldean, 24' ec (Sheehan), 2; 2 Mr G. W. Smart's Dakota, 30sec (Owner), 3. Also started :31Mr J. E. Mouatt's Prince 30sec and Mr J. Dodd's Diplomacy 36n«c The dividend for this event was £1 14s : for the Poay, £2 ; for the Te Aro Handicap, £3 ss ; the Pony Saddle, £1 11s ; the Dash. £1 3s ; »nd the Electric £1 16s.

The results of the other events not given above Vere :—

Pony Handicap (harness), of 15sovs. Two mile 3. —28 Mr T. Mason's Beauty, lOsec (Owner), 1 ; 17 Mr Blair's Chance, scr (Owner), 2. Also started : 16 Bluenose 2sec (won, but lost through protest), £ Faugh-a-Ballagh ssec. Te Aro Handicap (saddle), of 40aovs. Two miles.— 36 Mr J. E. Mouatt's Prince, ecr (Owner), 1; 7 Mr G. Cave's Blackpool, lOsec (Owner), 2. Also started : 26 Mr F. Mills's Carbine (who went powerful at first, leading onlookers to remark that another big gun had been discovered, but he only went off — pop) 14^ec. 8 G. W. Smart's Dakota acr, B0 Mr P. Williaim's Darlington 4sec, 4 Mr J. Dodd's Charlie II 6sec, 0 Mr H. Pycroft's Tussock 14se&

Pony Handicap (saddle), of ISsovs. Two miles.— B7 Mr J. Sharpe's Thomas, 363 ec (Owner), 1 ; 2 Mr 'K. Greak's Pledge, 45sec (Owner), 2; 27 Mr J. Dodd's White, Wings, scr (Hammel), 3. Also 'started : 7 Chance 32sec, 0 Faugh-a-Ballagh 40« ec, 2 Trapper 52sec, 2 Hokomai 55aec. Dash Handicap (harness), of 20sovs. One piile.— 2o Mr W. T. Olifiri Bluegown, 16aeo (Owner), L Also' started : 2 Cable Bseo, 0 Diplomacy 18seo, 1 Comet £8w& 8 Sfc JoUoB 29*00, 0 Beauty 33iec

Electric Handicap (saddle), of SOaova, One mile -27 Mr J. Langtry's F. 8., 7see, I ; 15 Mr G. ! Owb'b Blackpool, B&ec, 2. Also started : 8 Ini victua Bcr, 1 Vermont 3aec, 0 Whitefoot ISseo, 0 Jenny Lind 18seo, 1 Khandallah 20seo, 0 Charlie II 22seo, 5 Carbine 25;e0. | May 4. For the seoond and final day of this meeting at Mirama Park, the Wellington Trotting Club had an alright afternoon on Saturday. Notification had been made in the papers that the officials Would come down with all the force of the law if any bookies were found plying their "biz" on the course, for you see is was the pencillers who were responsible for the small returns on the machine on Wednesday, which you will have noticed in my review of that day. " True Sport" says a few strong words in one of our papers in reference to the matter. He reckons it is time it was noticed officially, and with clear eyes and firmness. "At the W.T.O. meeting on Wednesday," says he, " there was a perfect horde of these <faarpies (so-called layers of the odds) plying.their calling without let or hindrance, notj withstanding the fact that there we're several policemen present, but these latter persons are seemingly the only ones who cannot see the law being broken It was openly stated that the books had done more than the machine on WedI nesday. When the machine was licensed it was ! with the object of providing money to enable the •lubs to increase the stakes, and thereby induce the breeding of a better cla«s of horse, but," he argues, "if the officials of a club allow this illegitimate wagering to be carried on at the meetings, are they entitled to be trusted with permits for the totalisator ?" He thinks not, and if they find themselves powerless to prevent it. why not* agitate for further legislation ? i Partly owing to vigorous action (and some show of physical) against bookies on Saturday, with a very little better attendance, the totalisator receipts went 400sov8 better than Wednesday's, but so unfortunate has been the whole affair that it is more than likely the W.T.C. will be a loser on the meeting. As to Saturday's form shown in the trotting, several of the races ivere well conta ted, l but others were mere processions from beginning to end. The last race of the day was run in tbe dusk, and several riders, taking advantage of the dim light, gallopecl a large portion of the distance, completely spoiling the race and the chances of many of the other contestants Speculation on the totalisator was more brisk than on the first day, and the sum of £935 was invested, two machines being run— outside 6s tickets, and inside 10s. On the first race the inside tickets ■were £1, and in the tote figures" given hereunder the ins and outs are clubbed together, the results being :— District Handicap.— lß Mi W. Richmond's Flossie, *33sec (NankiveU), 1; 55 Tussock, 33sec (Owner). 2; 57 Steve Hart; 33seo (Mackay), 3. Also started : 19 Moonbe&m 37sec, 5 St. Julian 37sec, 26 Beauty 40\ec, 16 Chance 40seo. Dividends : Inside, £5 17s ; outride, £2 14s. Autumn Handicap.— 3l2 Mr M. Edwards^ Alice, 2fisec (Owner), I Also started : 49 Invictus scr, 67 Hazcldean 2Ssec, 85 Bluegown 30sec, 60 Diplomacy 44scc. Dividends : Inbide, 14s ; outside, 9s. Selling Handicap.— l 36 Mi W. Barry's eh m Fraulein, 18sec (Mouatt), 1. Also started : 12 St. Julian 18sec, 50 Chance 26sec, 26 Scotty 268ea Dividends, 13s and Bs. President's Handicap.— B6 Mr F. M. Mill's b g Carbine, 40sec (Mace). 1; 80 Darlington, 32sec (Edwards), 2. Also started : 350 Prince lOsec, 113 Blackpool 329 ec, 8 Charlie II 38sec, 11 Tussock 46sec, 3 Steve Hart 46sec. Dividends : Inside. £2 15s ; outside, £2 Ib. Pony Handicap.— 9B Mr J. Sharpe's Thomas, 24' ec (James Sharpe), 1. Also started : 105 White Wiugs scr, 10 Ghanet 44« ec, 15 Trapper 60s9C. Dividends : Inside, 19s ; outside, 10a. Kilburnie Handicap.— lß3 Mr W. G OliflPs gr h HazeldeaD, 14sec (Sheehan), 1 ; 35 Blackpool, 22aec (Owner), 2. 121 Invictus scr was the only other starter. Dividends : Inside, 16s -, outside, Bs. """- 8 Final Handicap.— 79 Mr E. M. Mill's b g Oarbine, 19sec (Mace). 1 ; 16 Invictus, scr, 2 ; 95 J.H., 2sec, 3. Also started : 21 Vermont 4sec, 69 Cable Bsec, 14 Jenny Lind 19Rec, 1 Whitefbot 21sec, 2 Khandallah 22sec, 39 Comet 26s°c, 0 Moonbeam SS^ec. Dividends i Inside. £J. 19« : outside, £1 3i. Has the W.R.C. climbed down f The stewards of tbe Wellington R.C , finding that two totalisator permite are still available, have allotted one to the Masterton-Opaki Club for a meeting, the dato of which has not yet been decided upon, ! and the other to the Otaki Maori Ohib for races |on the Queen's Birthday. The Wellington Club j withdrew the restriction in respect to the Master-ton-Opaki Club on finding that the Wairarapa R.C. had already held a meeting without the i totalisator. If another permit is available tbe ; Wellington Club will hold a steeplechase meeting during the session of Parliament. ! At a meeting of the officials of the MastertonOpaki Club on Saturday, it was decided to hold a race meeting on June 4, the metropolitan club having passed a programme. Certainly all's well that ends well.

On its way to fill several engagements t'other side of the Tasman Sea, the Nelson racer The Ace (Mr Thomas, owner) arrived here on Saturday, and is awaiting Thursday's boat. Tenakoe ! Kavai to Pakeha and Maori 1 and Hippi, hippi, hooray I for the Queen's Birthday 1 This is the feeling up Otaki way, as the stewards of the Otaki Maori Racing Club announce a programme for the 24th (or I should say the 25th). Tbe Ofcaki Plate Handicap has been allotted 160sovs ; the other events oOsovs, SOsovs, 40sovs «nd down. There's no meanness about these ranga'iras.