THE WEST COAST MEETINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 35

THE WEST COAST MEETINGS.

The Kumara fixture did not provide good fields nor many contests of interest; but at Westland the finishes were well fought out. This ought to bo tho rulo on the West Coast, for tho available horses are few in number, and as they keep on meeting each other, the handicappers should be able to bring them together nicely, if the form is at all reliable. I think it would pay owners belonging to the nearest of the neighbouring districts to visit these Coast meetings oftener. It .'s an expensive trip, but the stakes are worth picking up, there is generally a bit of betting to be got as a subsidy, and this season, at any rate, tho dates were nicely arranged for those who thought of making a tour, Greymouth, Reefton, Kumara. and .Westland coming in order, and at suitable intervals — that is to say, giving time for travel and rest, and not too much cut to waste. This season 22 horses have divided between them the whole of the stake money at these four meetings, the proportions individually being; as follows: — Paladin, £225; Couranto, £195; Bold. £150; Speculator, £138 ; The Dodger, £120 : Haria, £110 ; National, 110; Frenchy, £105; Quiltiri, £92; Slaiden, £90; St. Ouida, £87£; PetrpUne, £80 ; Sea,breeze, £75 ; Silver Rose, £70 ; Surrey, £60; Ben More, £60; Rustic, £20; Roview, £20; Cyrus. £15;. Millstream, £10; England's t Pride, £5; Corruption, £5. Thiß 'comes to a total of £18774, and there was a bit more to go for, as in the above computation the stakes in one of the ra"ces that resulted in a walkover have boen halved, and there waa also £4-0 for trots. It seems to me that in these fact* there is oncouragement for more owners to do the West Coast trip. The form is not very formidable. Paladin, the four-year-old gelding by St George — Nellie, comet) out on lop with a fair sum to his credit. If placed in tho open company of meetings at other places, he would not have done so well. Come to think of it, the bulk of these winner? havo been failures - prior to their experiences ou the Coast. Bold certainly was — Horace Lunn could not make this Dreadnought gelding pay in Canterbury — and Haria with -all hia speed was a dreadful expense to Wright's stable in Auckland.