THE F.P.R.C.'S INAUGURAL MEETING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2545, 24 December 1902, Page 50

THE F.P.R.C.'S INAUGURAL MEETING.

The attendance which was present on Saturday to participate in the initial meeting of the Forbury Park Racing Club was indeed one on which the club deserve congratulation. The lawns, saddling paddock, and outside enclosure presented an appearance which was strongly reminiscent of the Forbury in its palmy days, when the many racing stables in its vicinity," which are -nowhither empty, or being used to stable .cart horses, were inhabited by large Strings of racehorses. It is but a few years since the Hon. G. M'Lean had a fairly large string housed in his sfca'bles at St. Clair— H. Goodman had always a useful lot in his boxejß. which now claim, a solitary tenant — Messrs Sfcephenson and Hasletfs team .and stables of losser note helped to, make a fairb/: formidable list of horses, which were capable of holding their own in. any company. Tha Forbury was never very strong in two-year-olds, but many tip-toppers were taught how to gallop there, and one has but to glance at the Turf Record to note the success they achieved, notwithstanding the fact that the number to pick and choose from wa* very email. H. Goodman was alwayß remarkably successful with two-year-olds, and with Apropos, Silvermark, and Somneil he landed the Canterbury Welcome Stakes "three years in succession. First Lord and Daydream were a brace of daisy-clippers, who could also show their heels to the best of ihoir y«ars, whilst many- other famous horses, like Sir Modred (who afterwards became one of the leading sires of America), Somnus, and later-day notable performers, have owed many important victories to the knowledge of the art of training possessed by the master of the Kew stables. Gipsy King, Gipiy Grand, Eurcclydon, Skir« mi-her, Occident, Lady Emma, and other craok3 of bygone days could be discoursed on did space permit, but as this is the season of the year when peace and goodwill should reign supreme, and space being greatly curtailed, the reader is conjured to give his imagination, full play, and thus supply the deficiency. Tho card presented on Saturday last was a fairly attractive one, and some good racing, was witnessed by tho3e who patronised the Forbury: Large fields contested the\mai jorit'y of > the "races, and as. the details -are given elsewhere, it is Tinneoessary- to "recapitulate them here.' The various officials; of the club worked hard, to make the- meet- • ing a success, and speciat praise is due -to .the secretary, Mr E. L. Macassey, , for th».smoothness with -which the programme . was* carried out, and amongst the other offioials of tho club I oarticularly noticed that 3Vt L. C. Huzlett worked hard to make the meeting a success. The Hon. H. Gourley was also very early on the course, and lent hi 3 valuable assistance in making the day's sport enjoyable. The afternoon passed away without** dull moment, and it was an outing which everyone on the conrsa appeared to be enjoying. The one slight drawback to the day's pleasure was the unfortunate accident which happened in the race for the Trial Stakes, when Mosca and Leorene came down. The accident probably happened through the former galloping on the heels of some of the other horses in the race, as Amazement showed signs of being galloped on. Neither of the riders was eeriously hi-.rt, except Jams, who had one of his fingers broken, m addition to being badly shaken. Quite a feature of the day was the excellent prices obtainable . from the bookmakers, who were fielding during the afternoon. The Canteen stable commission was got on at 6 to 4 and plenty of even money was obtainable at the fall of the flag-. In the other races good prices were obtainable and no horse who .raced went out at under evens. In the Two Mile-Trot The Governor was quoted at 2's to i on, but he was quickly sent to the right-about in the market w.hert the Little Frank -money was poured in, and finally 2's and'S's were on offer. Several owners and trainers expressed the opinion that they would -like to see the bookmakers allowed to bet straight out at other meetings where at present they are conspicuous by their absence. Some of the public did not fully understand the prices on offer, and one well-known citizen refused 5 to 2 about a horse^ but expressed himself as willing to take 2 s to 1, and plenty of punters displayed anger when on comparing tickets it was found that their friends had vouchers whictt showed a point or more better odds. On the whole the meeting must be put down »b a great success, and there is no doubt that if the Forbury Park could regain some of its former importance in the racing w ° rI <| the sport would receive a much-needed boost in this part of the world.

— St Louis, the sire of St. Monica, is by St. George out of Psyche, the dam of Vogengang, Ben Farley, and Greek Maid. — Baxter was unlucky in breaking Uia hobbles in the. One Mile Trot, as he I°°%*" aU over a winner when the mishap occurred. — Had the Hurdle Race been run later m the day it would have furnished the best betting race of the meeting. — Rockleigh wa,» probably the most disastrous horse of the Forbury meeting for punters, as the Stepniak gelding had been registering good work on the track prior to the meeting, and he was solidly supported for the race won by St. Monica,. . „ — St. Monica looked very well whilst in tn« paddock at the Forbury, «nd she- is a mars who should score in more pretentious company before the sea-son closes. . — Of all the horses that sported silk at tna Forbury, none presented the appearance ol Sirius, who had th« incomparable polish of a* Goodman writ large on every hair of his hide. - — The starting prices of the winners at tnq Forbury Park on Saturday were:— Dartmoor, 4 to 1; Amazement, 8 to 1; Canteen, evens; Little Fra,nk, 6 to ■*; St. Monica,, 3 to 1; Noblesse, 3 tol; Miracle Jack, 10 to 1. I» n £ case did a horse start at under evens,, W.JUC&