TROTTING IN WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 388, 30 December 1897, Page 13

TROTTING IN WELLINGTON.

A Good Suggestion.

[By Fritz.]

There is no disguising the fact that trotting in Wellington is far from the standard of excellence that should be expected in the Empire City. There have been two clubs in existance for several years, the Wellington Trotting Club, which has two totalisator permits a year, and the Johnsonville and Hutt County Trotting Club, who have only one machine permit. The track of the former club is situated at Miramar, surrounded by sand hills, and a trotting meeting at Miramar when a sou’-westerly is blowing is a thing even to be remembered. At the last meeting of the Club, on Nov. 25, with liberal stakes of £240, the wretched'sum of £996 was put through the machine, which simply means the meeting must have shown a balance on the wrong side of the ledger. The Johnsonville Club, with only one tote permit, cannot possibly be placed on a soundfinancial footing. The suggestion in the follow ing letter to the New Zealand Times to the effect that both the above mentioned clubs amalgamate and lay down an up to date track at Petone, would quickly raise the fine and useful sport of trotting in the Empire City from its present low ebb to one of credit and standard of excellence, that would soon meet with support at the hands of men of good social standing, with-

cut whom no sport can prosper. 1 trust lo see the Colonial Secretary and the North Island Trotting Association, which (the latter) sadly needs rousing from its present state of positive dormancy, take some action. The following is the letter alluded to : —“ Str, — I agree with your correspondent * A Non-member ’ that trotting in Wellington is on the decline, and also that he has made the only suggestion that will save the life of the good old sport in this district. The amalgamation of the Wellington and Johnsonville Clubs, with the assist)nee of the many enthusiastic sports in the Hutt and Petone districts, would infuse new life into and ensure the future success of what will otherwise soon prove a miserable failure. lam convinced, Sir, that a trotting track second to none in New Zealand conld be made at Petone for a very small outlay, and being the most centrallysituated should be the most popular. Perhaps the Petone Borough Council could be induced to permit a track to be made on its newly-acquired grounds, which are sheltered on all sides and eminently suited for a trotting track. If not, then the show grounds might be secured, and failing that, we could fall back on private property, which could be secured in abundance. I would suggest that a public meeting be called by the two clubs in existence, with a view to thorough and sound combination, after which new members would rally round the trotting standard and place the sport in the position it deserves. —1 am, &c., Intending Member. December 8, 1897.”

r'notos i y A. Si"ck,sAucki<nid. For Letterpress see page 12.