NELSON JOCKEY CLUB.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14653, 6 March 1918, Page 7

NELSON JOCKEY CLUB.

TO-DAY'£ RACES

Snould the weather'-.hold fine, the' Nebon Jockey Club's annual' race meeting, which commences at Richmond Part to-day, promises to be most successful. A large crowd of visitors frou Wellington and tie West Coast are already in town, and a big contingent oi Marlboro-«gh sportsmen is expected to arrive to-day. There are other indications that the attendance will be large. Itwill be noted that the first event is timed to start at 11.30 a.m., and the concluding event at 4.15 p.m., which will enable patrons wlfo travel by ran to connect with the 5 p.m. train leaving Richmond. , The course is in splendid order, and as the acceptances received are well up to the average, there should be som* good racir-g. Returned soldiers, wearing the badge of the association, and soldiers in uru. form will be admitted to all parts of the course free. Racing wiil commence v<ifch the Trial Stakes, six furlongs. There ore ;i"teen entries, and the public may have some I t.'ouoie.m sorti^ff; out the- winnoj. Exclusive, Imaa-ibbcn, Blue Gov/n and| Lady Phyllis may be expected to rtn well'- The .well-bred Benope 3\a> jirver yet reproduced his track form in pr.bi'c. Ttere are seven acceptors.in tho Ncjson Cup, and if ail go to the post the race should prove an interesting one. Rose Pink is nicely handicapped with 8.4. After her successes on the West Coast and in the Foxton Cup, th> Kilbroney mare will probably start favourite. Xanthos and Kiltess also won some good races on tie Coast at Christmas time, and will no doubt come in for solid support. West Coast sportsmen are very confident that the former will run well. • Neither Good Hope or Pariform have shown winning form this season, but they are both looking well. Ma-scot is weir enougv bred to command respect, arid tfce writer would not -be surprised to see the Martian filly fighting out the finish v^ith Rose Pink. Black Night has no>

raced so far this season, but a win for the.local owner, Mr. C. B. Pharazyn, would be a popular one. Tl'ere are seven acceptors also in the Stewards' Handicap, and Waimatao may be expected to start a short priced favourite. War Tax, Trentham Rose, and Chudic won races on the Coast at Christmas time, btt they are not in the same class as the Bezonian gelding. War Tax, however, may keep Waimatao busy. The Welter Handicap is tire only other open event on the first day, and most of the horses accepted for appear in the Cup and Stewards. Prince Delaware will be making his' first appearance in this race, and may be most favoured by the public. The public will probably get a line ti. Ci;ide ttem in the Hope Hack Welter from the Trial Hack. Arihia, who won the Awahou Welter at,the recent Foxton meeting, and Lady Phyllis, if reserved for this event, should run well. In the Telegrapb HacE there are alsc several horses which appear in the TM Silakes. Humorist, Excitement, and Claverhouse do not claim engagements in other races, and the winnot may come from this bunch. As usual, the two trotting events vail provide good fields. Many of the competitors are locally owned, and the public will have recent form to guide them. For the Maitai Trot, Neil Denis, although a maiden, is much talked about,, probably because lie is from A. Hendricksen's stable, and ."£ may be favourite. There are thirteen acceptors in_ the Wai-iti Trot. Major Election and Wild Pedo, winnters at the Nelson Trotting Club's meeting, have been penalised, and are now on 14sec. and 16sec. respectively. The latter trots consistently, and supporters of the Wildmoor gelding will get a good run for their money. . i The present state of the poll ct win-j nino- rklers is as follows:—Roy. Heed SO LH Gray 30, A. Heed 24, C. Emerson 23 J. b'Shea 21, J. Olsen 17, L. Mansoii 17, C. Prico 14, B. Deeley 14, H. Young 12, G. Clarke 12 E. Ludlow 11, A. J McFlvnn 10, R. S. Bagby 10, H. llobiriGon 10. Tho following horses arrived yestordav to take part in the meeting:— Ro'-ip Pink, Preface, Arihia, Trentham Rose Lady Phyllis, Mascot, Exclusive, Bluegown,' Kiltess, Shedaddle, 11-mce Delaware,' and Trickery.