WAVERLEY AND WAITOTARA R.C. ANNUAL MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 487, 23 November 1899, Page 18

WAVERLEY AND WAITOTARA R.C. ANNUAL MEETING.

A GOOD MEETING. [By oue Tabanaki Coebespondent.) As usual, this club held their annual hack —so called —meeting, on November 9, under most auspicious circumstances. There was splendid weather prevailing, and the fixture was patronised by a record attendance from along the coast — from New Plymouth and Waitara in the north, to places beyond Wanganui in the south —and there was plenty of money abjut for speculative purposes. It was estimated that were fully 2000 persons on the course, a large proportion being brought by special trains from north and south, and the need of more accommodation was never more apparent. Since the last meeting the Hub

have made a few necessary alterations in the privy and bar accommodation, but a good deal yet remains to be done for the convenience of patrons. The petition between the lawn and saddling-pad-dock should be abolished in order to obviate the great crush that usually takes place at the narrow entrance, and the steps to the stand should be at the side, with a balcony in front, so that persons could gain easy access to the stand, and not be blocked by a number of inconsiderate persons who are wont to use the present double-front steps as a vantage spot to view the races. The totalisator lanes should be enlarged and better managed, so that the work could be carried out more expeditiously and a great deal of confusion and jamming prevented. Messrs Neylon and Spriggens machined £4343 during the day, which is a record for the club. In one race alone some £3OO was blocked out, owing to speculators hanging back too long, and then wasting further time by getting jammed up in the narrow lanes in their frantic endeavors to get their money on. If the totalisator-house were shifted to the other side of the lawn, it would greatly relieve the con jested state of the lawn in its narrowest part, and make things comfortable all round. The few improvements 1 suggest could be carried out with little expense, and, seeing the patronage accorded the club, I think the money would be made up in one meeting by the percentage from the extra amount that would be machined. Mr W. S. Dustin, of Wanganui, supplied a really excellent and substantial lunch, which was greatly appreciated by patrons. The liquor-bar was run by Mr Hellaby, who, with his assistants, had a busy time after each race—when the winners were “ wetting” their dividend. Despite the large holiday attendance there was not a single case of inebriation, sobriety being a marked characteristic of every racecourse now-a-days. Mr Edgar Sjmes carried out the secretarial duties in a thorough and efficient manner, and was well assisted by the other officers of the club. Mr A. W. Budge manipulated the starting barrier with success. Mr Nolan acted as judge, and in the two short races he had his work cut out to place the second and third horses, owing to the number of horses that ran past the post almost on terms. The racing throughout was interesting, if not exciting, and some good dividends were paid out, especially on the Final Stakes, which was appropriated by Marianthus (a black daughter of Recluse), WHO REWARDED BACKERS with a dividend of £54 12s. In both the short flutters the “ book” did not give the pedigrees of the horses engaged, as it did inj the handicap races, and there was considerable grumbling over the omission, some going as far as to say that it ‘must have been done for a purpose. I don’t see what object the club could have had in omitting the pedigrees, and the explanation is that, as the two races were general entries, owners reckoned the club would not need the breeding lines. However, in future, it would be as well for the club to insist on pedigrees being sent with all general entries. The programme opened with the Hurdles, one mile and a half, for which the nine on the card went out. Heart Whilst, Nayborn, and Hautonga were made favorites in order, while Whetu had the next best following. The race is easily described. Whetu held a good position all the

way and won easily by several lengths from the disappointing Heart Whist, with Queen Mab third. Nayborn jumped with, no confidence. I think the big tumbles she got steeplechasing and hurdling in open country at Wellington has knocked a lot of pluck out of the mare. The top deal battens in the hurdles were spintered like matchwood by some of the field, and as an exposition of clean lepping the race was not a success. Time, 2sec 58 l-ssec. Dividend, £7 7s. .

and Tukapa divided favoritism, with Marinathua, and Forager next in demand. Sentry JUSTIFIED BACKERS’ CONFIDENCE by winning by over the length of the straight, run in 52 2-5 sec, Tukapa a good second, and Gipsy Queen a good third. Dividend, £3 13s. Bugler, Vibration, Somnolent, Krina, and Koriki dropped out of the Prince of Wales’ Handi* cap, seven furlongs, leaving ten to go to the post. As this was Southerly Buster’s first start, the

lime, 2min 17 4-ssec Dividend, £6 2s. The Wilson Stakes, half a mile (weight Bst, any. winners (o carry 141bs extra) brought seventeen to the post. The defections were Ika, Scout, Tambour, Thirjspot, Fox, Whetu, The Crown, Rover, Te Taiafia, and Kohma. Sentry

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