WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 114, 29 September 1892, Page 6

WELLINGTON.

September 24. The edict of the Wellington Racing Club that the United Hunt Club shall have no more race meetings has been variously criticised, some being of opinion that it is a step in the right direction, others that it is an arbitrary interference with Hunt Clubs generally which by creating a demand for a useful class of horses and by cultivating good fellowship aad a healthy sporting rivalry among the better class of settlers are of benefit to the community, and are worthy of encouragement rather than repression. With regard to the Heretaunga Rifles the injunction meets with nearly universal approval, for such bodies are not intended to include racing in their programme, and the general opinion is that although the crack corps of England’s army hold annual steeplechase meetings there is no sufficient reason why, under the widely different circumstances the custom, with totalisator accompaniment, should be introduced into New Zealand. The Wairarapa Hunt Club, not being mentioned in the Metropolitan Club’s firman, have written to Mr. Lyon asking him if they are to consider themselves included in the embargo, but that astute official has replied that he knows nothing more than they do about the club’s intentions in the matter. I presume, however, that the question will come before the stewards at their next meeting. From what I can learn the Metropolitan Club will endeavour to arrange for a two days’ Winter Meeting, and introduce at least four events open to hunters only, thus giving those members of Hunt Clubs who are inclined for racing an opportunity for indulging in a bit of sport. Whether the metropolitan body will follow the Canterbury example, and give the Hunt Clubs a proportion of their profits of the meeting I do not know. The Johnsonville and Hutt County Trotting Club, which most people thought had died in the process of parturition, has suddenly come to life with an excellent programme for an inauguratory meeting on the sth November, that is, just a week after the Wellington Trotting Club’s Meeting at Island Bay. The amount to

be given, in stakes is £l6O, divided over six races, the principal event being the Johnsonville and Hutt County Trotting Club Handicap of 50sovs, three miles. The serious falling off which is noticeable in the totalisator returns of the clubs which have already held meetings this season is exciting the grave attention of the Wellington stewards. They ascribe .it mainly to the recent legalisation of totalisator betting under Mr. Justice Williams’ ruling, and are determined to make a firm stand against it notwithstanding that judge’s decision. Their argument is that the Huies of Racing forbid many things that are not in themselves illegal, and they forbid, among other things, totalisator betting. All persons whilst on their course must conform to the Rules of Racing, and those who violate them, whether by totalisator betting or in any other way, will be immediately turned off. The Hawke’s Bay Club, I hear, also, take , this view of the vexed question, and intend making it very hot for offenders in this respect. The grass gallop on the Hutt Course is now in process of formation, and it is said if the weather keeps fine it will be ready for horses to train on in a fortnight. Mr. H. Fisk has sold the steeplechaser Sir Garnet to Mr. Tait, of the Railway Hotel, Lower Hutt. The price it is said was about £l5O which I understand was offered for him in Christchurch after his winning at Plumpton Park. When fit he is quite in the second class, and with a moderate weight is dangerous in any company. 1 see that he has been nominated by his late owner for your Auckland Spring Meeting, but at present it is a question whether he will go up. Phillip Murtagh, who has trained him and generally ridden him, got a nasty fall with him in the Feilding Hunt Club Cup, which he would have won to a certainty had he not met with the accident, and has been laid up ever since the meeting with a broken collar-bone and a split breastbone. He was out to-day for the first time, and looked very bad, his left arm being still bandaged. He says it was the narrowest shave he has ever had, and has forsworn steeplechasing for the rest of his life. A. Peters, with the hurdler Bide-a-wee, will leave for Napier on Friday next. It is not quite settled whether he will also take La Petite Fille. Both have shown good form on the training track lately. The Wairarapa Hunt Club held its last meet of the season last Saturday at Messrs Bid will Bros.’ splendid station at Pihautea, between Featherston and Martinboro. There was a large concourse of prominent settlers, and the day being fine some capital sport was enjoyed. Two runs took place, one before lunch in what are called the heifer paddocks, about a mile from the homestead, and the other at 2.30 p.m. in the homestead paddocks About twenty riders took part in each, and there was some of the best jumping I have seen in the dis--—“~'rrict. Mr. W. E. Bidwill invited the whole crowd of riders and spectators up to his house and gave them a capital spread. The meet was unanimously voted the best ever held by the Wairarapa Club. Correction. —By a slip of the pen I last week described Legislator as by The Premier. He is by Administrator — Ruby.

["by WIRE. J September 27th. [ A little difficulty has arisen in connection with the Wellington Racing Club’s Summer fixture; Anniversary Day, 22nd January, falling on Sunday, the Club have fixed the meeting for Monday and Wednesday, 23rd and 25th January, but now they find the C.J.C. have selected the following Saturday for their Summer Meeting, so that horses running at Wellington will not be able to get down to Christchurch in time to race there. Communications are going on between the two Clubs, the Wellington stewards wanting the C.J.C. to postpone their meeting until Saturday, the 4th February. This arrangement, if made, will enable horses to go on from Wellington to Christchurch, race there, and go on to Dunedin for the Autumn meeting. The Otaki Maori Jockey Club have drawn up their programme for New Year’s Day. The sum of is to be given in stakes, the principal events being the Hurdles of 40 sovs., Boyle Stakes of 25 sovs., Glasgow Handicap of 60 sovs , and Stewards’Stakes of 30 sovs. This Club delights in giving its races the names of the Governor’s family. Last year, it will be remembered, the principal races were the Onslow Cup and the

Cranley Stakes, and it was singular that a mare named Huia won two of the races. Mr. King has again been appointed handicapper. The Masterton-Opaki Jockey Club, which numbers over a hundred members, was to have held its annual meeting on Saturday last, but only the president and secretary put in an appearance, and the meeting had to be adjourned till Wednesday. The gentleman who races under the name of W. Cousens” has sold his Puriri gelding Paramu to a syndicate at the Lower Hutt for ioogs., and the horse goes into Armstrong’s stable. The same owner has sent his mare Ranee Nuna (who broke down while undergoing his preparation for the New Zealand Cup) to Christchurch on a visit to Medallion. The new Ohau Hack Racing Club, which had their programme referred back for compliance with the new Rules of Racing re amount of stakes, have sent an amended programme to the Metropolitan Club with their stakes made up to /500, and it will be considered at the monthly meeting of stewards on Monday. The Wairarapa Hunt Club have sent a letter to the secretary of the Wellington Racing Club asking whether the injunction against hunt clubs holding race meetings applies to them, but all the reply they have received at present is that nothing has yet been determined.