WELLINGTON NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2372, 17 August 1899, Page 37

WELLINGTON NOTES.

August 10. Mr John Coyle is progressing satisfactorily He informed rue -when I called on him to-day that he felt better than he had done for some time. Tho Hawke's Bay Trotting Club is to race on Boxing Day. Pony gallops are to be inckxded to keep things going. 1 understand a majority of the stewards of the Greymouth Trotting Club are favourable to the removal ot Alf Keith's disqualification. Considering the rough time the stewards of at the Hutt received last month, especially lace week, it is looking as well as can be expected. Although the course has been rolled, there Js evidence of where the water has lain— mostly in the straight and at the baok of the course. The two «vorkhig gallops look really well st present; in fact, arc in better order than they have been for some time. There is also a gTass track in present in use, and local gallopers were never better catered forthan at; present. Randwick Lodge — it requires a pretty strong imagination to compare this place to anything at Randwirk— is tenanted by F. Higgott and F. Barry. Their only charges aro Ssssaby (Wapiti — Vanity Fair) and Miniature, the Jattei of whom is mnning out. J. Hunter is in the stable alongside the course, and has a couple of Rebellion colts of Mt Campbell. Harry Fletcher is back in his old homo alongside the racecourse. The house and stables yre ?t prc-senfc tenanted by Mr W. J. Jorgcnson. The inmates are StrathbrsuJn, Weary, and Falka, who should pay their way next sear;on. The injury to Strathbraau's foot appears to have healed."' Australina is at present turned out in the Wairarapa. W. Davis has improved his stables by having one end boxed in, and the building now forms tlu-ee sides of a square. Mr Davis was r way at Riccarton with Ruby Twist (who, it wa3 iiimoured at the Hutt, had been sold to Victoi Harris) when I called. The boxes here are at piesent occupied by Kent, Oaborne, Leda, Mirage, Overseer, colt by St. Leger — Lady Wellington,, colt by Jet d'Eau — Forlorn Hope. Wisp was running out in a paddock alongside the stable, and may be taken up later on. T. Clarice has built stables on somewhpt (similar lines to Davis's, or> the property at the back of M'Nab's gardens. Clarke was away at Ghristchurch with Ngaparu, and the only inmate of tho stables was Cavendish, who is in charge of Vincent O'Neill. N. Williams, who rides for Ike James, who stables at the Central Hotel, has charge of Avt Jewel, Monument (a threc-yeai-old gelding by Morphevis), and Inkemian (a five-year-old srelding by Vanguard). James was absent at Christohurch with Rala and Trnsk. Johnny Armstrong is working a three-year-old colt by Gipsy King — Starwater {dam of Rata). Albert Peters, the veteran trainer at the Hutt — " Dad ' he is .familiarly called — had gone to Riccarton with Conopirer. Hany showed mo the inmates — viz.. Nevermore (St. Andrew — Lenore), the best-looking horse at the Ratt: Sister Agnes (Master Agnes — Repo3e), who is engaged in the Wainirapa Hack Oi.'-eus; and CaV>alls>. The latter is like the rest o! the Calesbys, not of much Recount. It would take a lot to convince me that Catesby wns a bro*her to Trenton. The action of the Racing Conference in declining to sanction thp payment of the coats incurred by the M&sterion Racing Club ov*r the .Ethel inquiry whilst it decided to pay the costs (up to £30) incurred by the Dunedin Jockey Club in the totalisator case ngainst its spcretary (Mr Sydney James), looks very much like favouring a metropolitan club to the detirment of a- country club. Of the two cases there can be no doubt as to which was the worthier one for the costs to be paid by the Conferpnce. Tn the one case it was a question of the investigation of a fraud, iho other w?f= the resisting of an attack upon tho legalised gambling machine. The one affected tho purity of racing; the other the exchequer of racing clubs. Both were entitled to favourable consideration, but if one more than the other then it was the Mastorton Racing Club which should have been granted assistance, niorfi specially when the financial status of the two clubs in taken into consideration. Besides, in the interests of racing, the Conference should have borne at least a portion of the Masterton Club's expenses, as almost all cases of " ringing in " are perpetrated on courses under tho jurisdiction of the smaller clubs, and if these clubs are to be saddled with the full costs of investigating a swindle they will naturally be chary of taking up an inquiry. — " Centaur," Wairarapa Star. The programme issued by the Carterton Racing Club for their annual meeting on November 9 and 10 shows an increase of £365 as compared with last year. The principal additions are the Wairarapa County Cud of 200sovs and the Carterton Hack Handicap "ot lOOsovs. Mr Burriclge is erecting boxes alongside the trotting ground at Petone. From the remnrks made by delegates at the Trotting: Conference also by the Colonial Secretary, with reference to last season's oiaiiagemont, a change should be insisted upon before a nerinit is granted the Wellington Club. The annual meeting of members of the Wnirarapa Racing Club is to be hold at Greytown on August 31. The outgoing committee has issued a proposed programme foi the Summer inepting. The amount given in stakes shows an increase of £135 as compared with last year. The Cup has been increased from £150 to £300 and the Racing Club Handicap from .£'llo to £175. The minor events have been increased all round.

1 The starting machines which were in use ort the Hutt course have been passed out. The Wellington Racing Club has increased the stakes for the Spring meeting by £310— hardly as much as the advances made by the Carterton and Wairarapa clubs. The elimination of the hurdle races in favour of juvenileraces of same value is, I think, a good move, as it encourages local breeders, also purchasers of youngsteis who may not be forward enough" or goocl enough to take to Christchurch ot other centres where there are juvenile races. Ihe club is to celebrate the 19th century by giving a £100 trophy to the Cup prize. Ii is to be hoped the trophy meets with "a better" late, .than the one presented in 1595 fe nd won f-mt^-n % S° ney has been raised hom£ooo to £600, and the second and third monies douoled to £100 and £50 This makes the races worth £500 clear to the winner. Onehundred pounds has also been added to th« C11 i g . Chlb Handica P. of which has been a «aed to second and third monies; £50 was fontn t tO i - h if N ° r J tl l Island Challenge Stake"! ±20 of which went to second money I have to thank Mr W. H. E. Wanklvn for a copy of the C.J.C. book programme foi : the piesent season.