WANGANUI

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 113, 22 September 1892, Page 6

WANGANUI

September 17.

All those who know the popular crosscountry horseman Harry Pell will be pleased to hear that he is rapidly improving in health, and is now able to take out-door exercise in the ambulance carriage belonging to the Wanganui J.C. Although unable to move his body to a great extent, owing to the injury to his spine, he now has the use of his hands, and looks forward to soon being about again. The doctors agree that Harry’s indomitable pluck has had a lot to do with his improvement. Fraternity is doing splendidly in his work for the New Zealand Cup. He has been receiving some staunch support for that race, and I fancy he will be a hard one to beat when the colours are up. Boulanger is going on all right, and his stable connections are very sanguine about his chance. J. Belcher, his trainer, avers that wherever Fraternity is “ Bully’s” neck will be in front of him, but I very much doubt so, although “ Bully ” is not a horse to be despised for the big event. The stock of Sam Powell’s thoroughbred horse Ascot are beginning to exhibit good form at all distances on the turf. The majority of Ascot’s get are all big upstanding horses, showing good muscular power. At the late Hunt Club meetings at Marton and Feilding Ben Lomond, a fine big raking bay gelding, jy Ascot out of a half-sister to old Loch Lomond, was successful in pulling off three events out of four in which he started. At Marton he made his first attempt over hurdles, and had no difficulty in disposing of his field, and a week later he again romped home in the Hack Hurdles and Welter Handicap at the Feilding meeting. He is possessed of a good turn of foot, and for a green horse at tbe illegitimate game jumped very well, and with Alex. Cameron’s careful supervision should show to greater advantage later on. He belongs to Mr. Baldwin of Turakina (the owner of Gladius), who informs me that if he can get the figure he wants for him, viz., £l5O, he will sell. Poinsettia, another Ascot, was also successful at the abovementioned meetings, winning the Flying Handicap at both gatherings. I very much regret to have to record that Mr. J. Poole, of the firm of Messrs. Hill and Poole, has been very seriously ill for the last two weeks, but is now slowly mending for the better, and I am sure his friends will be glad to see his genial face amongst them once more. Mr. Jas. Smiley has just had erected in St. Hill street a comfortable stable, comprising four commodious boxes, with a sleeping room attached. The boxes measure 13 x 12, and are fitted with patent windows, that can be opened to any distance at the trainer’s requisites, while water and everything needful for a stable

is close handy. Mr. Smiley informs me that he is prepared to let them on a moderate charge, and if he does not succeed he will keep them for the use of horses visiting here at the races, and as thev are close handy to the course he will be sure to find occupants for them. The Wanganui Jockey Club has long had an enviable name for its splendid racecourse, which is hard to beat in any part of New Zealand, and visitors from all parts are always pleased to pay a visit to the race gatherings that take place on that popular track. The Club’s secretary, Mr. Freeman R. Jackson, is the right man in the right place, and a better could not be found in the whole of the colonies, and the Club should feel highly honored in possessing a man of his energetic abilities. Before the last Autumn Meeting a great deal of improvements were carried out, amongst them being a miniature lake, which was greatly admired by all who were present. Since the Steeplechase Meeting a lot more additions and alterations have taken place, mainly to the saddling paddock, in which the stalls and boxes have been reversed, the space that used to lie at the back, about five chains square, having been utilised for a paddock, so that the saddling paddock proper will be used only on race days. Five new loose boxes have also been built, besides a fenced-in box for horses to roll in, which is greatly in demand by the trainers. The jockeys’ room has had 6ft. added on to it and is also raised higher in the roof, and is now a comfortable room, while also a new Press room, 14 x 12, has been built, and the old one added on to the secretary’s room, making it far more comfortable and useful. A large-sized bell has been placed above this room for the purpose of signalling when to saddle, etc., the bell having the following inscription painted on it—“W. J.C. Established 1848.” The outside fence, 7ft. high, is now carried right round past the six furlong post, the course at the top end having been widened half a chain. The training tracks now number eight, besides the course proper. No. 1 track is reserved for racehorses three days a week, and they can have a trial on the course proper by payment of £1 for each horse. No. 2 track is solely reserved for a trial course for hacks, of which there are about 30 in work. The other tracks, including a plough and sand track, can be used any time by all who have horses in work, the inner track being threequarters of a mile round. The whole course is now looking well, and with good nominations on the 20th for the Spring Meeting we may look forward to one of the most successful and enjoyable meetings that the W J.C. have yet held. At the committee meeting of the W.J.C., held on Thursday evening, the programmes of the following clubs were passed:—Warrengate, Rangitikei, Ash-urst-Pohangina, and Waverley-W aitotara Racing Clubs. [by wire.J September 20. The nominations received to-night for the Wanganui Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting total 104 for six events The principal event of the meeting—the Wanganui Stakes — has twenty-two nominations, the principal outsiders being Kupenga, St. Katherine, Heather Bell, Wyvern, North Atlantic, Spinfeldt and Queen of Trumps. Taken on the whole, I am afraid the Club will not have an extra good meeting, as some of the local horses are pretty well sure to fall out before the day, to say nothing of the outsiders. The entries for the different events total as follows : —Spring Handicap 19, Hurdles 12 (each day), Flying 1,9 Owen Stakes 16, Wanganui Stakes 22, and Castlecliff Stakes 18.