OUR WANGANUI LETTER.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 85, 10 March 1892, Page 3

OUR WANGANUI LETTER.

(from our own correspondent.) The handle horse Te Ata, by Pap-a-pa —Peter Flat mare, has been sold to go the West Coast, where he should have no difficulty in placing a few wins to his credit at the illegitimate game. 0. Woodley, who has lately returned from Australia, has taken the Commercial Stables, and has had a lot of improvements done to the establishment, which now consists of thirteen loose boxes The horses at present under Woodley’s care are as follows : — Sister by Natator—Ravensworth mare, St. John by St. Leger — Ravensworth mare, Snowflake by Natator—Pastille (this mare is a full sister to Tayforth, who was taken to Melbourne by W. H. Keith some three months back, and where heis reported to be progressing very favourably), Inheritance by Daniel O’Rourke —Ravensworth, mare, and a three-year-old filly by Natator— Dead Shot mare. All of these horses are looking well, and should score a few wins during the season. Sister and Snowflake are already winners, and to judge by the way in which they were brought to the post, it is evident that Woodley thoroughly understand his business. C. Lett, who has three boxes in the same stable, has in hand the well - known hack Strike by Natator —Ravensworth mare, Tititea (Cheque’s half-sister), and Rangiora by Puriri. All these horses are in good fettle. Strike is reckoned to be one of the best hacks on the Coast.

Mr. E. J. Chapman has brought his team into town from Fordell; with the intention of winding them up for the forthcoming meeting. The team consists of the hurdle racer Commotion by Somnus, Strephon by Pa-a-pa, White Rose by Anteros, and O’Rourke by Daniel O’Rourke. Fred Tilly is in charge of them, and he has them all in splendid condition, and I shall expect to see Commotion and Strephon run very prominent at Wanganui. Mr. Chapman informs me that it is his intention to take these horses to Australia after the steeplechase meetings are over. Mr. Henry had 26 acceptors out of 31 nominations in the Hack Race at the late Egmont Meeting, which I should think is the record for New Zealand. I see by your last issue that your Taranaki contributor was loudly condeming the handicap, and especially pointed out that Shiela was badly treated, yet she finishes a good third in the time of I min 48|sec. The general opinion of the sporting men at Hawera was that Mr. Henry had excelled himself in all his productions at that meeting. The Wanganui Jockey Club have been going in for extensive alteration on their course, the latest improvement being a good substantial board fence about seven feet high, which runs all the way from the main gate to the far end of the saddling paddock, and it greatly improves the appearance of the place. At the end nearest the town another gate has been made and a members’ drive laid out, which looks well as it winds itself through the trees. It leads right up to the saddling paddock, which has also undergone a lot of improvements. The fence that shut in the saddling paddock has been removed, and a minature lake made, the length being about 2A- chain by 1 chain wide and the depth about 4ft. 6in. The sides of this lake have all been concreted to prevent the water from escaping, while at either end, in the centre of the water, a fountain has been erected. At the centre of the lake itself a bridge has been constructed to enable the public to cross from the saddling paddock to the opposite side of the lake, where seats have been arranged so that a good view of the proceedings in the paddock can be witnessed, while the band stand is situated at one end of lake where it will not interfere with a view of the racing The whole of the improvements have made a wonderful difference in the appearance of the place, and the Club’s secretary (Mr. F. B. Jackson) is to be warmly congratulated on his untiring efforts for the welfare of the Club.

[By Wire.J Wanganui, March 8. Mr. E. J. Chapman’s horses were put up for auction last Saturday, but failed to bring the price wanted, /"155 was offered for Commotion and /'ioo for O’Rourke. At the same sale Dan, by Natator, winner of the Wellington

and Christchurch Hunt Club Cups, was also offered for sale, but was passed in being the price offered for him. An investigation was held last Saturday by the stewards of the W.J.C. against several prominent bookmakers for laying totalisator odds in the paddock at the late Autumn Meeting, lhe charges were against E. Yuille and N. Nathan of Wellington and R. May of Auckland. The charges were held to be proved to the satisfaction of the stewards, and the offenders were warned off the Wanganui racecourse during the pleasure of the Club. Since the above decision Mr. R. May has appealed to have a re-hearing of his case, which is to come off on Friday night. Will send you fuller particulars by letter.