WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 208, 19 July 1894, Page 5

WANGANUI.

July 13th. The Rangitikei Hunt Club held their Point-to-Point Steeplechase yesterday, when a large number of contestants entered the field, the winner turning up in Mr T. Simpson’s black gelding Hop Bitters, who showed fair form both in the Hunters’ Steeplechase and Final Steeplechase at th© late Wanganui Meeting. The annual meeting of the Wanganui Jockey Club is to be held at the Rutland Hotel on Friday, July 27th, when the annual report and balance-sheet will be submitted, and the officers elected for the ensuing year. Kai Iwi Lady, who was looked upon here as having a big say in the Great Northern National Hurdles, but had to be withdrawn owing to having injured her ligaments through striking a hurdle while schooling, has been turned out by her trainer, Charlie Woodley, at Okoia. The handsome daughter of Natator will be treated to a spell until Christmas, when she will be taken in hand again, and most likely race in the autumn. Nanakia, who made the dead heat with Booties in the Wanganui Steeplechase, is nicely treated in the C.J.C. National Steeplechase at the impost of 9.8, and as the horse is doing well, I consider that he will have more than an outside chance of placing that event to his credit. He is bound to carry a bit of our local punters’ money. It is also Belcher’s intention to take down Nanakia’s stable companions, Goodwood and Rags, the first-named to compete in the welter events, while Rags (Ascot —Leonessa), who is a full brother to Cretonne, will take part in the Ladies’ Bracelet.

The first club on this coast to issue their programme for the coming season is the Marton Jockey Club, whose gathering is set down for decision on the 9th November. There are eight events on the programme the principal ones being York Farm Handicap, 1 £ miles, of 75 sovs, and Flying Handicap of 50 sovs. W. Butler’s National Hurdle candidates, viz., Stranger, Strayshot and Splitlink, are being sent along in their schooling. Yesterday Stranger evidently was not in the humour, as he did not care about facing the jumps, and after being sent at them he fell, giving George Laing a buster. Strayshot jumps clean, but I should say is a long way from winning a National Hurdle Race. The full brother to Swivel, Splitlink, is a most determined jumper, but generally raps them very hard, although it does not seem to make any difference to him. Of the three he is a long way the best, and I fancy that he will be the only representative for that event from Wanganui. Amalgam, who is also under Butler’s care, will, I believe, also make the journey. He is engaged in the Steeplechase and Hunter events, and he should show up prominently in the latter races.

The weights for tfie C.J.C. Grand National Meeting have caused a bit of interest to be taken in the events, and I should say good fields will go to the post. I like best at present in the Steeplechase —Norton, Morag, Despised, Bombardier and Nanakia ; Hurdles — Liberator, Kapua, Melinite and Empire.

Mr W. H. Keith arrived from Hawera to-day, and intends to make his headquarters here for three or four months, as he is getting a team of horses together which he intends to put into work before taking them over to the other side.