WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume V, Issue 212, 16 August 1894, Page 4

WELLINGTON.

August 6. The report of the Wairarapa Racing Club to be submitted to the annual meeting on the 23rd inst. has been published. It club to be in a healthy position. The gross returns for 1893 were 7s Bd, while in 1894 it was /'1341 6s 6d. Arrangements have been entered into with the trustees of the course for 14 years at the same rental (£7O), with the

proviso that as each is paid off the existing mortgage, an allowance of £7 will be made in the rental. It is recognised that the interest of the two as bodies is identical, as the property is held in trust for racing purposes. During the year, four loose boxes and twelve stalls have been erected, the saddling paddock enlarged, and a new ticket office erected. A new training track is being made inside the enclosure, and the report says that in all probability the club will not be troubled by the encroachment of the river now the protection works have been completed. Reference is also made to the death of the late treasurer, Mr McShane. Several notices of motion for the annual meeting have been given, including one by Mr W. Bidwill, “That a hack is a horse that has never won an advertised race at any time (hack and hunter races excepted), and is not and has not been nominated in any race other than hack or hunter races at the same meeting.” The well-known sprinter Rebellion goes to the stud for the coming season.. Mahara’s half-sister, by Remington, is expected to turn out a good one. R. Hockley has her in hand at Tauherenikau. With the filly and Fresh Deal, Hockley should win a few races next season.

The Marlborough Club is about to amalgamate with the Upper Wairau Club. The former club has not been a success, and not having received sufficient local patronage. It was no unusual thing, I believe, for owners only being able to obtain 60 per cent, of the stake money. If the N.Z. Jockey Club is formed, I think the Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast Clubs will be under the charge of the Wellington Metropolitan Club. It seems a farce that clubs like the Marlborough and Nelson should have metropolitan powers. I hear from Blenheim that Princess Cole, which over-reached herself prior to the Woodville Meeting is doing well now and will be seen out in the spring. Her brother, King’s Own, is furnishing into a fine horse, and my informant thinks he will prove himself faster than his sister. Sporting matters are very quiet in Blenheim. Mr J. Criss has left the place, having taken a hotel at Taratahi, in the Wairarapa, where he is training Von Tempsky, Captain Boison, and a couple of others. Westmere is going splendidly in his work at Wanganui, and I am told that he is worth an investment for the N.Z. Cup; Mr J. E. Henry must feel satisfied with the splendid acceptances received for the N.Z. Cup. He assured me a week or so ago that 50 would accept, notwithstanding what the “ croakers ” said about it being a rotten handicap. With 51 acceptors he was not far out. Royal Rose has been nibbled at this last week for the N.Z. Cup, several hundreds being laid at 100 to 3 014. Mr Lenny, of Melbourne, owner of Foxtail, is at present on a visit to this city. The horse is leased at present, but it expires previous to the Caulfield Cup, and Mr Lenny then intends racing him himself. He is considered to have a fair chance in the Caulfield Cup. In connection with a fiasco at a recent meeting I heard about a nice little game a “ clever” crowd had worked up. It was arranged that a certain horse should win either by fair or foul means. The horse jumped away without any word from the starter, and was soon followed by the others. As the others were catching him the rider of the said horse put him into a gallop at the back of the course. His example was quickly followed by his opponents, and the race was turned into a galloping event instead of a trotting one. The “ clever” rider, so as not to make it too strong, eased his mount up about fifty yards from the post, and intended to trot the horse in a winner. But it refused to trot, and meantime the others passed the wily one. The - latter was greatly indignant (as well as the others in the swim), as he had his mount well backed, and thought they would lose their money. As it turned out they got their money back. But if was a narrow escape, and it should make them careful in future. Feeling reference is made in the annual report of the Rangitikei Racing Club to the unfortunate accident which befel the late Charles Watson on the club’s course. The report says:—“ We regret to say that at this meeting occurred a fatal accident, the first on the Rangitikei Racing Club’s course, the horse Caloola, in the • Second Handicap Hurdles, running into the hurdle, breaking his own neck and giving his rider, poor young Watson, a fall that resulted in his. death after lingering unconscious for exactly a week. Every attention was given him at the

Rangitikei Hotel by Mr and Mrs O’Halloran, and Dr. Bennett was unremitting in his attendance. The lad was buried in the Clifton Cemetery at Bulls at the expense of the club, who also paid the doctor’s fee, which action we feel confident this meeting will endorse.” The Rangitikei Racing Club is out with their Spring programme. The date of the meeting is fixed for the 26th September, and the programme is made up as follows Flying Handicap of 6osovs, six furlongs; Hack Handicap of 3osovs, six furlongs ; Hack .Hurdles of sosovs, one mile and a half; Hunters’ Hurdles of 30S0VS, one mile and a half; Hack Hurdles of 30S0VS, one mile and a half ; Spring Handicap of uosovs, one mile and a quarter; Hack Race of 30S0VS, one mile ; Final Handicap of 4osovs, one mile. . August 13. The Wellington and Northern visitors who returned from the National Meeting yesterday had a very bad time of it. In fact, I have not run across one yet who made “ ex’s.” The punters, who remained behind, however, fared better. The victories of Norton, Barnardo, Mus ket and Liberator were severe reverses for the local “ books,” each of whom come out the wrong side of the ledger over the meeting. The Steeple and Hurdles double was picked in every book in town. The Musket party had a good win over the persistent grey the first day, but received a severe blow when King John failed in the August Handicap. Although there was a good deal of betting over the various events, it showed a marked falling-off as compared with last year, and is a sign of the bad times. The fact was plainly evident that money is very tight in the Empire City. The Wellington trotters Invictus, J. H., and Vancliffe failed in their engagements in the Cathedral City. They were fairly supported here, and the books had a “ skinner ” over the meeting. J. H. was the only one to run forward, obtaining second position in the mile trot. This horse, however, is far from well, but -when fit should make things “ hum.” The manner in which Kiri Paka, the favourite in the Hunt Club Bracelet at Riccarton on Saturday, was ridden has been severely commented on by returned visitors, many of whom consider his running should have been enquired into by the C.J.C. The party behind Nenthome would have landed about /"700 if he had got home in the Second Hunters’ Hurdles on Saturday • If Gillie had been out of the way I believe he would have finished in front of Pumau. He should make amends for his ' defeat ere long, as he is a promising horse. Casket was backed for a few hundreds last week for the N.Z. Cup at 100 to 4, and from a healthy quarter, the commissioner being willing to go on at that price, but no more money was forthcoming. I hear from Fielding that the local trainer, J. Wilson, is handling a fine three-year-old son of Administrator — Hippocampus mare. Roll Call is wintering well, and will probably sport silk in handicap events next season. Pyramu’s brother, Sunday School, has never fully recovered from the influenaa. His mentor intends to put him over sticks next season. At a recent meeting of the TaratahiParteitu Racing Club, 14 new members were elected. It was decided to proceed at once with the formation of a training track. At a meeting of the committee of the Feilding Jockey Club on Monday evening, the question of reducing the number of days racing of the Feilding Club from four days to two days was fully discussed, and a sub-committee appointed to draw up a reply dissenting from the proposal contained in Mr J. G. Wilson’s circular. A sub-committee was also appointed to draw up a programme for the Spring Meeting to be held at the end of Nov. Mr R. Stevens, of Palmerston, has purchased a thoroughbred stallion from Australia, by Malua, dam Norma, which is to be used for stud purposes in the Manawatu district this season. From Australia comes the news that it is likely that Aquarius, who has been well supported for the Melbourne Cup, will not stand a sound preparation, as his legs are “ dicky.” There’is a debit balance of £6 15s over the Palmerston Trotting Meeting. It is reported that Prioress 'has been sold to a New Plymouth syndicate for J&2OO. account of several of the players picked in the Wellington representative team which is to travel to Hawke’s Bay and Auckland not being able to obtain ■

the necessary leave —notably Duncan, Swindley, Hyland and Poland —Wellington will not offer as strong opposition as anticipated. Swindley and Hyland, who are members of the Torpedo Corps, however, are putting in fresh applications for leave, and it is considered probable that it may ultimately be obtained. The Montague-Turner Opera Company are doing fair business in town, but the Belle-Cole Concert Company are being patronised more liberally.