RACING CLUB.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 3, 13 December 1911, Page 6

RACING CLUB.

Judging from the very sa-tisfactciy nominations . received., The Stratford ■Racing Club’s meeting sJjmud be a , ug-sticceis. This year fcne Chib l as gone to a big expense, something over £1,200 to. improve the general apr pearahee of trie ground, and trie general accommodation . Owing to ffie inadequate accommodation tor the stewards and officials, and also the crowded condition of the grandstand, at the race meetings, it was decided to erect a new stewards’ stand of uandsome design, and extend the grandstand eastwards' to give 50 percent. more accommodation. These works, which have now been completed, are but the bigger items in ciie Club’s big list of it may be mentioned that the saddling paddock and. grandstand have beenc enclosed by a neat iron railing, tad in many parts the ground has ■men levelled, portions of the property mgged, and-trees planted. The Club uy,s also considerably extended its Join a his by purchasing a number of Stratford Extension sections adjacent to the western boundary of the coarse. These sections have some pretty native bush cu them, and the Club has made efforts to preserve the natural beauties of the sections, thus making a magnificent background to the course.

By January Ist. the whole of this year’s programme of m;movements will have been completed. Another' feature of the meeting will be the working _ of the totalisn-tor on the silent principle in place of the less up-to-date method previously employed. A very good railway time-table has oeeu arranged between Wanganui md New Plymouth, for tuc two days’ racing, and trains from Waitara and Pe Wera will run to silit, the Gains arriving in Stratford one and a half hours before the races start, and at least two trains in each direction leaving from an hour to two and a half hours after the finish.

The catering is in the capable hands of Mr. Elder, of Stratford. At the last committee meeting it ■was decided to ask Mr. J. R. L. Stanford to act as judge at the Club’s meeting on January Ist and 2nd next. .Ur. Stanford, we understand, will accept the position. Another official not previously announced is the handieapper for the first day, Mr. J. E. Henrys, of Wellington, whose reputation is a very ligli one, indeed. lor the f.e.'ond lay Mr. J. Chadwick, of Auckland, will officiate in this capacity. Mr. H. Thompson (Christchurch) is the starter.