WELLINGTON

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 757, 8 September 1904, Page 8

WELLINGTON

Wellington, September 4. The annual meeting of the Wellington Racing Club only occupied some twenty miuiutes. The report and balance-sheet was taken as read, and after it had been briefly commented upon by the President (Mr J. B. Harcourt), was adopted without discussion. The President then moved the following formal resolution : “That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that the Club should purchase freehold land suitable for purposes of a racecourse, training tracks, etc., not exceeding in all two hundred and fifty acres, situated at Trentham, and over which the Club has obtained an option. That the Stewards of the Club be authorised to expend a sum not exceeding £25,000 in the purchase of land, in the erection of buildings, and for such works as may be necessary, in their judgment, to create a firstclass up-to-date sporting ground, with its adjuncts. That the Stewards have full power herewith conferred upon them to enter into

all necessary financial arrangements, and to execute the agreements and deeds.” This was carried unanimously and without discussion. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the business. The resolution adopted by members at the annual meeting of the W.R.C., was the outcome of a decision arrived at by members at an informal meeting previously held, and which, after discussion, unanimously agreed to the scheme proposed by the Stewards. The new executive met on the morning following their election, and irrevocably concluded the purchase of the land required for the site of the new racecourse.

I understand that no time will be lost in proceeding with the formation of the racecourse and tracks, and that plans and specifications will forthwith be got out for the building, etc. It is just possible that racing will take place on the new course next Autumn. The Stewards having secured the site, and the necessary funds wherewith to provide a modern and well-appointed racecourse, intend to render it available for use at as early a date as possible, as further expenditure on the Hutt Park course is considered only so much money thrown? away.

The Spring Meetings are now engrossing the attention of trainers and racehorse owners, Marton Meeting has drawn a few entries from Wellington. The Rangatiki R.C. has received good entries, including the local horses Defoe, Matuku and Sanfoin from Pritchard’s stable, and Sychem and St. Winifred from W. Davis’ team. Mr H. Brown, a well-known Wellington sport, has also engaged his new purchase. Moccasin, in both Steeplechases, and all going well, our reps, should win a race or two at the meeting. Mr P. Soames’ colt by The PosThe above owner’s colt by The Pos-sible-Miss Dargon, also in Mr Prosser’s hands, is shaping nicely, and sportsmen generallv will agree in wishing his owner better luck with him than befell the filly Possibility. The executive of the Otaki Maori R.C. have issued their Spring programme. The events are confined to hack racers, for which the amount of added money is £7OO. The principal stakes are the Demonstration Handicap, of so sovs, or*?, mile and a distance, and the Ngatihua Handicap, of 60 sovs, one mile. There are tert other events of 50 sovs each, including two Hurdle Races, a Maiden Race and a Trial Handicap, of 35 sovs each, completes the programme. Nominations close on September 24th. Messrs J. H. Pollock and Charles Chavannes have been re-appointed handicapper and starter respectively for the Otaki Maori R.C. Mr Chavannes has also been appointed to act as starter for the Masterton and Manawatu Clubs. The Greytown Racing Club and the Wakanae Racing Club have also arranged with Mr Pollock to adjust their weights. The requisition presented to racing clubs a couple of years ago by racehorse owners and others interested in the proper conduct of racing, is at last having some effect. Many racirtg clubs now recognise that the demand of owners for more handicappers was a just one, and owners are gratified to find clubs insisting on their handicappers attending and witnessing the racing of horses whose weights they have to adjust. A system of handicapping by deputy has caused much dissatisfaction and at the annual meeting of the Napier Park Club members plainly intimated that for the future only those handicappers who had time to attend their club’s meetings should be employed. The result was the applications for the position of handicapper to the club was at once advertised for.

Those clubs who ignore the request of

owners and adhere to their former system of having their handicapping done in a theoretical and rule of thumb manner may find that their meetings will suffer through lack of nominations. Owners are entitled to have their horses weighted on form, as guesswork does not work out in practice.

A prominent owner mentions a case in point. A North Island Club held a race meeting while the club’s handicapper was at Dunedin. The weights for a neighbouring club’s meeting were due the day following, and most of the horses engaged were those which had just competed. The handicap duly appeared, although the official issuing them was soo miles away, and had not witnessed a single horse give an exhibition of his form. This is a sample of weight adjusting that owners consider is manifestly unfair, and it was to alter this state of things that they requisitioned racing clubs. Mr Geo. G. Stead passed through Wellington en route to Sydney on Saturday. The owner of the Yaldhurst team mentioned that latest reports from Mr Mason were to the effect that the whole team were doing well, and Mr Stead expects the team to uphold the honour of the colony at the forth.coming A.J.C. Meeting.

Several local sporting men have taken a holiday trip to Sydney to witness the A.J.C. Races. No doubt the presence of the Yaldhurst team at the meeting was an inducement. Several sports have forwarded small commissions for irtvestment on Mr Stead’s horses, and a win for his horses will be anxiously looked for. _ . . r „. Betting on the N.Z. Cup is quiet. The local layers have books open on the double, Cup and Stewards, .and the prices range from 500 to i to 500 to 21. The Porirua colt Boris has been coupled in a few doubles by followers of the stables fortunes.