RACING DATES.

Wairarapa Age, 17 December 1924, Page 7

RACING DATES.

A SHUI’FLE UP.

In consequence of there being no racing on Anzae Day, which this year falls on a Saturday, and the Dates Committee of the Racing' Conference having overlooked this fact when drawing up the 1925 fixtures, a very unhappy state of affairs has arisen for the Masterton Club. Masterton originally applied for March 14, which is the nearest Saturday to March 17, the date on which the Club usually races. April 4 was allotted, but it was then found that the Wellington Racing Club had been allotted April 23 and 25, the latter date being Anzac Day. The Dates Committee therefore circulated the followiag suggested amendments to the programme: Opunake, March 17 to March 14; Rangitikei, from March 25 and 26 to March 18 and 19; Wellington April 23 and 25 to March 26 and 28; Manawatu, April 29, 30 to April I and 2; Masterton, April 4 to April 18. The Masterton Club thou suggested that they should race on March 21, and that Wellington should take April 16 and 18, one week earlier than their original date. In reply to this the secretary of the Racing Club (Mr N.. H. James) yesterday rceeeived the following telegram from the Dates Committee: “Owing to Anzae Day falling on a Saturday it is necessary for the Wellington Club to alter the dates of its autumn meeting, and as Manawatu requires to race the week following owing to the same horses competing in the classics, Rangitikei has agreed, in order to meet the exceptional circumstances, to race on March 20 and 21. Consequently Wellington and Manawatu may be granted March 26 and 28, and April 1 and 2 respectively. Has your club any objection to these alterations under the exceptional circumstances J”

To this the Masterton Club has replied: “What date is suggested for Masterton? April 4is too close to Manawatu, and April 18 is at the tail end of the Easter season. We desire to arrange for March 21, being the nearest Saturday to our original date of March 17.” From the foregoing it is very evident that direct action is necessary if the Masterton Club is to get any date worth racing on. The possibility of wet weather has also to be considered in the delaying of the meeting till April 18.