WANGANUI JOCKEY CLUB

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 110, 12 May 1931, Page 4

WANGANUI JOCKEY CLUB

STEEPLECHASE MEETING GOOD WINTER FIELDS. EXCELLENT PROSPECTS (Bv “KESTREL.") If good fields spell the success of a race meeting then the winter meeting of the Wanganui Jockey Club on Thursday and Saturday of this week has every prospect of being one of the most successful, from the racing point of view, in the history of tho club. True, these are hard times and money is “tight, 0 but there is every chance of the Wanganui Club emerging with a credit balance as a result of the two days* racing. At any rate, the support that has been accorded by owners and trainers in the shape of acceptances for the first day of the meeting may be taken as a happy augury, and all will hope that Saturday’s fields will be jm-t as good in numbers and quality as th 3 “card” for Thursday appears to be. The Wanganui Steeplechase course is not so difficult now as that which was raced over forty years ago. described in such interesting vein by Mr H. H. Jackson in this morning's issue. .Speed is what has been aimed at more than jumping ability in the ’chaser of today, and thus w’c find that the obstacles to be cleared by candidates for honours in the Wanganui steeplechase events do not present such difficulties as in days gone by. Still, the fences will not need to be risked by indifferent jumpers, a? was proved at Hawera last week, when more than one steeplechase candidate came to grief. The distance to be cov ered in these events in not so great as usual, either, and that assists to make a big difference.

Jumping events naturally claim most attention at the Wanganui winter meet ing, and on the two days’ programme for this week enthusiasts in this direction are catered for with a steeplechase event each day, and two hurdles races the first, day and one on Saturday. This is perhaps not quite so much jumping as some of the old-timers would like to see, but clubs have got to consider ail phases of the game, and as there are plenty offering for events on the flat there is a preponderance of flat races. The writer has in his possession a ‘‘correct*’ card of the Wanganui Jockey Club's winter meeting of 1888. This was held on May 24, the birthday of Queen Victoria. On a programme of seven events there- were four steeplechases. the distances ranging from a mile and a-half up io three miles. It may be of interest to note that on the occasion under review Kangaroo carried 12.3 in the opening event, the Maiden Steeplechase, and then camo out in the Wanganui Steeplechase later in the afternoon to carry 10.5 to victory. Those days, however, are gone, and now the material side of racing obtrudes still more on the public eye. Od totalisator turnovers depends, to a great extent, the amount which a club can offer in the way of stakes, and in this direction it is of interest ot recall that for the last ten years the trend has been decidedly downward. At the Wanganui winter meeting of 1921 the amount handled on the totalisator on the two days was just over £90,000. The following year it dropped to a little over £60,000, while by the time the 1929 meeting came along the gradual decrease had had the effect of bringing the figures down to £48,000. Last winter’s meeting resulted in £46,000 being handled, and as the trend is still further downward this season it will be interesting to see whether the drop is f still further accentuated this week. Stiff Government taxaticn has had the ( effect of driving away the many backers who were free in their investments ten years ago, whereas nowadays the “commission” windows are deserted and few are found at the £5 windows. The ten-shilling totalisator has come to stay.

The majority of the candidates for the opening day of the meeting this week were seen in action at Marton, Hawera or Stratford, though there are some newcomers whose form may play havoc with the best-laid plans. The track is in splendid order and everything seems well placed for the smooth running of the fixture. Tho opening event on Thursday is the Rata Hack Hurdles, and immediately afterwards follows the Century Hurdles. The Wanganui Steeplechase and the Connolly Handicap, for so long fig uring on the opening day, will this year take place on Saturday. The order of the events on Thursday is as follows: Rata Hack Hurdles 12.0 Century Hurdles 12.45 Balgownie Hack Handicap .. .. J. 25 Grandstand Steeplechase .. .. 2.10 Empire Handicap 2.50 Borough Hack Handicap .. .. 3.30 Winter Oats , 4.10 j So far as training operations are concerned it has been a fairly quiet period on the Wanganui tracks, most of those engaged having had enough racing to fit them for the meeting. Yesterday was an “off” morning and t ost of tho fast work will be done this morning or to-morrow, while there will also bo some jumping this morning. Among the visitors already here are Black Duke, Pewa, Pakitere, Golden Shadow, Cuticle, Bennanee, Shrewd. Royal Bengal, Manifesto, Zippor, Call Again and Kaokaoroa, while a number may be expected to-day. The Taranaki contingent may not put in an appearance until to-morrow, and some of the Awapuni-trained team may not be brought through until the morning of the races.