HAWKE'S BAY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 701, 13 August 1903, Page 7

HAWKE'S BAY.

Napier, August 7. The Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club held their Annual Meeting yesterday. The balance sheet showed that the year had •baited with an overdraft of £1577 Bs. 5d., and had closed with an overdraft of £2170 15s. sd. One member, Mr G. Land, brought up the matter of eliminating classic races from the programmes, for he attributed the falling off in vhe receipts to this cause, and as he tersely Sut it, if the Club did not reduce their takes, they would have to go under, his opinion being that more hack events should figure on the card. Mr Shrimpton, the acting treasurer, also spoke in favour of the step advocated by Mr Land, and Messrs G. P. Donelly and L. de Pelichet were also on his side. The latter gentleman gave the following notice of motion for the next meeting : — ‘‘That no further entries be invited for the Hastings and Hawke’s Bay Stakes.’’ There is not the slightest doubt that this classic business is overdone, for there are not enough rich owners in New Zealand to patronise these particular class of events, and the men who make a business of racing, have not got Sufficiently long purses to be able to purchase high-priced yearlings. If classic •vents are required, why not make owners race for their own money. Those who go in for the sport for sports sake, I presume do not care for the lucre, it is only the honour and glory of waning that they desire, and if clubs were to donate a piece of plate, say of loosovs in value, and find a stated sweepstake to also go to the victor, would this not give good sport, and produce emulation, between those who own the good ones, and at the same time not impoverish clubs, who want to be genteel, but cannot afford it. It is all ridiculous nonsense decrying Hack Races, as some clubs are prone to do, for there is no getting away from the bed-rock fact, that several of the best gamest horses in the land made their debut in Hack races, and it is fair to assume that had there been no Hack contests these particular horses woold not have had an opportunity of asserting their excellence. Possibly, some may argue, if these animals were so good, would they not have been able to show their quality in classic races. Most certainly not, for in nearly every instance the notable Hacks have belonged to poor men, comparatively speaking, who. had to creep before they, walked, and the small races with light entrance fees, suited their pockets and requirements to a nicety. I know that I will be accused of heresy in the matter 1 am advocating, for it seems a cast-iron rule . that sporting scribes generally, should dilate upon the good accruing to racing from the establishment of these high-toned races. There is one thing that I am certain of, and that is, out of ten races in the be-fore-mentioned superior class, nine of them are, as a rule, wort with the greatest of ease, and the interest in the affairs are generally nil, for they are foregone conclusions from the fall of the flag, and often before that period. Just look at the betting in these class of races. Why it is no price about one, and write your, own ticket about the others, and I contend that speculation is the true indication of the strength of the subject, for the public are the best judges going. In proof of my argument anent the classics, what have the Dunedin Jockey Club done ? Why, as a sensible body, they removed them from their programmes, and the means has justified the end, for where they were previously floundering about in financial straits, owing to having to find the wherewithal, to endow the high-class races, they are now able to show a credit balance, and the sport has not been a whit less exciting. The Wellington Club have also taken the “bull by the horns”—and struck out one of the weight-for-age contests that used to adorn their programmes to the detriment of their exchequer, and in favour of the Hack races. Attention must be drawn to the fact, that these particular events attracted larger fields, better racing, and more remunerative speculation than was ever the case, when the classics were under consideration. What has proved a success with these clubs, must certainly do the same with other organisations who are scraping and paring to make both ends meet. Napier, August 12. Mr A. Cleave, accompanied by his son, Mr A. L. Cleave, arrived here by motor car, from Auckland, on Sunday. Though the trip was beset wish a lot of difficulties in the way of bad roads the motorists enjoyed the jaunt. They left this morning for Wellington, and it is natural to anticipate thas it will prove an enjoyable run, as the going will be

much superior to that experienced on the trip from Auckland. To have only been connected with a motor for about a month, and then take on a tour from Auckland to Wellington,. shows that the,, proprietor of the “Review” has a deal of sand in his conformation. The car and its occupants attracted a deal of atterttion during their stay here. Vladimie was sent through from Riccarton to-day a& a special good invest- - ment for the Winter Cup, and the information was made use of by the local punters to the detrimertt of the bookies. Awahuri’s success in the Grand National Steeplechase marks the second occasion upon which the bearers of the scarlet and white banner of Mr G. P. Donnelly has been hailed the victor, Manga ohane having secured the award in the big chasing event of the year in 1888. He, like Awahuri, was bred by Mr Donnelly, which consequently will make the triumph all the more palatable.