TARANAKI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 114, 29 September 1892, Page 7

TARANAKI.

September 24.

The Taranaki J,C. committee met on Friday night last to receive the report of a sub-committee, who were appointed to draft out programmes for the season. The committee, after discussion, decided on the following programmes :— The programme for the Boxing Day Hack Meeting is: —Maiden Plate 30 sovs, miles ; Shorts Race 25 sovs, 4 furlongs : Flying Handicap 40 sovs, 6 furlongs; Handicap Hurdles 40 sovs, about miles; Summer Handicap 85 sovs, miles; Ladies Purse (Handicap) 25 sovs, 1 mile ; Welter Handicap 30 sovs, x mile: Farewell Handicap 25 sovs, 6 furlongs. The programme for the Anniversary Meeting is :— First Day. — Handicap Hurdles 60 sovs. miles ; Hack Hurdles 30 sovs, i| miles; Scurry 30 sovs, 5 furlongs ; T.J.C. Handicap 250 sovs, miles ; Hack Flat 30 sovs, 1 mile ; Welter 60 sovs, 1 mile ; Flying 75 sovs, 6 furlongs. Second Day. — Grandstand Handicap 80 sovs, 7 furlongs ; Handicap Hurdles 75 sovs, 2 miles ; Hack Hurdles 35 sovs, 11 miles; Autumn Handicap 150 sovs, miles; Hack Flat 35 sovs, miles; Shorts Handicap 50 sovs, 5 furlongs ; Consolation 40 sovs, once round. The committee also decided in view of the Anniversary Day falling on Good Friday next year, to hold the meeting on February 23 and 24, which dates ought to suit, as they come between the Egmont and Wanganui big meetings. The Hack programme for Boxing Day Meeting is a great improvement on previous years, that is as regards prize money, and such liberality ought to draw a good response from owners of hacks on this Coast.

The committee, it will be observed, have re-inserted open handicap hurdle races in their programme for the Anniversary Meeting. These races were abandoned some three seasons ago, as the committee, or rather a majority of the committee, considered that the Club lost by such events. However, it is to be hoped that the re-introduction of such races in the programme will prove otherwise in the future.

The Taranaki Jockey Club, after many years of battling, have at length made the turn in the proverbial lane, and with the increasing prosperity of the district the future career of the Club should be a prosperous one. That the Club was kept going despite adverse circumstances, was due mainly to Mr. J. Paul and Mr. A. Standish, who were ably assisted by Mr. R. G. Bauchope (the present hon. sec.), Mr. W. L. Newman, and other gentlemen.

On Saturday a stallion parade, under the auspices of the Agricultural Society, was held on the reclaimed land. In blood stallions there were Armament (Musket —Sissie), lonic (Dauphin—lna), The Australian (Tregeagle — Ordeal), Lionel (Leolinus —Petroleuse), Eros (St. George—ldalia). “ Mr. Keswick’s ” two-year-old colt Galant (Ingomar — Atlantis) was also paraded for show. In draught stock there were Nugget IL, Wellington 11. and Nobleman 11. The recently imported Cleveland Bay, Earl of Hopetoun, and the trotting stallions Squire and Ebony, were also on parade.

Armament did not look at his best, as he had a big belly, which is due to the fact of his only being recently taken in after a long spell in the paddock. When he loses this stoutness he will look the handsome horse that he is. The Australian, who is well advanced in years, looked rather light, but then he is always a thin ’un ; yet, nevertheless, he has sired some good ’uns — Torpedo for example. Lionel looked big and lusty, and far more tractable than he was the previous time he appeared on parade. Evidently “Bill” Russell has got him under perfect control now. The half-brother to Sir Modred, to wit, Eros, was greatly admired by the spectators. He looked quite a model. Mr, Twenty man Wilson, of Stratford, who is the owner of Eros, informed me that it is quite probable that the son of St. George and Idalia will be seen on the race track again. lonic looked in capital nick, and it struck me he would strip a much better horse for racing this season than he did last season. His owner, however, is determined to put him to the stud. The two-year-old, Galant, was very frisky. He looks rather thin and small at present, but when he starts to fill out he will look much more presentable to the eye. Of the three draughts Nugget 11. looked the best. Mr. Dingle’s trotting stallion, Ebony (Blackwood Abdallah — Gentle Annie) looked well. The two recent importations from Melbourne, Earl of Hopetoun and Squire also looked big and well.

I understand that Jervey George in tends to race Vendor (Resolution —Confidante) again. I notice that this owner has nominated Durus for several events at the Wanganui Spring Meeting. J. Russell has also nominated Flukem for both Open Handicap Hurdle Races at the same meeting.

The success of the Taranaki pony, Rodney, at the Auckland Troting Club’s meeting on Saturday was no surprise to me, for I knew that he possessed plenty of pace, and that the residence he has had in Auckland would tend to cure him of the spirit of a cocktail that he displayed down here.