WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 473, 17 August 1899, Page 12

WELLINGTON.

Mr ILvett’s bonus—Stables at the Hutt — The Wairarapa Racing dub — Increase in Wellington Racing dub stakes — Carterton Racing Club—The Hutt track— The Masterton dub —Increase of prize money — The Marlborough dub — I he Masterton Trotting A foaling — Importation of clay birds —News from Sydney—Marlborough improvements. Wellington, August 10. The amount voted by the Wellington Racing Club to their handicapper, ten guineas, was the same as donated to an injured jockey. Seeing the salary Mr Evett gets compared with some handicappers it was not a great amount, and £5O would have been a decent bonus for a metropolitan club after a successful season. Mr John Coyle, who is laid up here, continues to improve in health. There are about the usual number of horses in training at the Hutt. No less than five of the trainers go down for the Christchurch meeting. J. Hunter has the stable close to the course formerly used by Isaac Freeth. A couple of rebellion colts are the only occupants of the boxes here at present. F. Barry and F. Higgott have the extensive range of stables known as Handwick Lodge. Satsaby has the place all to himself at present. W. sDavie’ lot includes Osborne,’Leda, Kent, Overseer, Mirage, St. Leger—Ladybird colt, and Jet d’Eau —Forlorn Hope colt. Harry Fletcher has recently returned to his old quarters, next door to where Mr W. J. Jorgenson bas his team. Ihe horses in work are Strathbraan (whose injured foot appears to have healed), Weary, aod Falka. Auetralina is running out in the Wairarapa Ike James’ lot are stabled at the Central stables, and are in charge of N. Williams. They are Art Jewel, Monument (a three-year-old gelding by Morpheus), and Inkerman (a five-year-old gelding by Vanguard), i his pair are Taranaki bred as also is a tbree-year-old colt by Gipsy King— Starwater (half brother to Rats), who is trained by Johnny Armstrong. In A. Peters’ stable are Sister Agnes (Master Agnes—Repose) who is engaged in the Wairarapa Hack Guineas, Caballer (by Catesby), and Nevermore a handsome colt by St. Andrew— Lenore (by Musket). T. Clarke has had good stables erected on the property formerly owned by James Pettie. Cavendish is the only occupant here. The Wairarapa Racing Club has increased the money for the summer meeting by £435 as compared with last season. The Cup has been raised from £l5O to £3OO, and the Racing Club Handicap from £llO to £175. The Wellington Racing Club has increased the added money at the spring meeting by £3lO ]as compared with last season. The hurdle races have been done away with, and juvenile races of equal value substituted. This will, no doubt, be appreciated by owners of juveniles. The Cup of 1900 will have a 100 guinea trophy added for the .winner. The stakes has also gone up from £5OO to £650, while second and third prizes have increased from £5O and £25 to £lOO and £5O. The Racing Club Handicap has had £lOO added to it, £35 of which goes to the placed horses. The North Island Challenge stakes was raised £5O, £2O of which goes to second money. The starting machines which were in use for some time at the Hutt have been done away with. Pr: bably Mr Piper had no use for them. The Carterton Racing Club have issued the programme for the annual meeting on November 9th and 10th. The stakes show an increase of £365 as compared with last year. The principal race is the County Cup of 100 sovs one mile and a quarter. The racing track at the Hutt has been rolled and should be all right by the spring meeting. The weather last month seriously affected it. The two gallops at present are in good working order, and a grass track is being formed on the inside of these. Along the back the exercise gallops are much higher than the racing track and must affect the latter in wet weather. In some places in the straight the racing track has had a rough time of it. August 14. At the annual meeting of the Masterton Racing Club the following officers were elected: — President, A. W. Cave ; vice-presidents, C. F. Valance, J. Macarty, and J. Mcßae; judge, J. Irons; clerk of the scales, F. Hill ; timekeeper, J. Muir; treasurer. Mi’ O’Connell; stewards, Messrs J. Muir, F. Hill, W. D. Watson, D. Me-

Lachlan, J. McKenzie, T. W. Wardell, M. O’Connell, W. Irons, 0. H. Smith, G. H. Yates, A. G. Pilmer, J. D. Cruickshank, and G. S. Dalrymple. The question of the “ Ethel ” case expenses was brought forth, it being decided eventually that a fund of one per cent, be set aside for the purpose of meeting cases of Ihe “ Ethel ” character. Mr O’Connell opposed the motion on the ground that the stakes were low now, and if one per cent, were deducted they would be much less. The motion, however, was carried. Messrs C. F. Valance and F. Grace were appointed delegates to the Metropolitan Club. Mr Hill moved that the stewards be empowered to increase the stakes offered to not more than £1690. He said tbe Lower Valley clubs were increasing the amount of their stakes and the Masterton Racing <®lub should do the same instead of spending their money on improvements, etc. An amendment was proposed making the total stakes offered £lBOO, but a further amendment was carried making the sum £2OOO. The Club is to be congratulated in launching out in this particular direction. Good prizes mean good fields. The Marlborough Racing Club is now in a much better position than for some time past. It struggled under great difficulties until four years ago when a change for the better set in financially. It now owns the Riverland’s racecourse, which it secured for £1025 on terms. A considerable amount of money has been expended on the property during the past season, and the outgoing committee reported to the annual meeting last week that further improvements were necessary in order to bring the course up-to-date. The spring meeting just about paid for itself, but the was made on the autumn gathering. The committee regarded the entries received for th© Fourth Marlborough Hack Challenge Stakes to be run in 1901 as satisfactory, and recommended continuance of this class of race. Ihe Masterton Trotting Club has appointed W. G. Garrard, of Christchurch, for a seat on the New Zealand Trotting Association Board. The balance sheet of ths Masterton Trotting Club shows that that institution is in a very satisfactory position. The receipts for the year were £342, and the expenditure £289; the sum of £l5O was given away in stakes. The Tattler mare, dam of Brookfield, has foaled a filly to Remington. A Nelson gentleman informs me that the Nelson Gun Club has imported 6000 clay birds from America. This will reduce the cost of clay bird shooting by nearly one half, as the clay birds imported are a long way cheaper than those procured locally. A private letter from Sydney informs me that Boreas would have had little chance had he gone over for the Epsom meeting. “ There are anumof hot things on tap this time.” He says the bookies are bound to get home. Mr S. M. Neville has been re-elected president by the Marlborough Racing Club, the officers for the season are vice-president, Mr W. L. Clifford; treasurer, Mr H. L. Jackson ; committee, Messrs F. Redwood, G L. Lane, G. Cheeseman, A. B. Green, T. O’Leary, S. Tapp, R. Bell, G. Cleghorn, and H. W. Horton. W. McLeod’s fillv, by Forester—Tara, has been named 80-Peep. She is engaged in the Wairarapa Guineas, and was purchased from F. D. Thompson of Tenui. It is intended by the committee of the Marlborough Racing Club to effect a number of improvements on their course this season, including the erection of a good weighing room and a secretary’s office, besides adding to the stalls and extending the enclosure.