WELLINGTON

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 800, 6 July 1905, Page 8

WELLINGTON

Wellington, July 4.

Matters appertaining to racing will be very much in evidence in Wellington shortly, as the delegates appointed by trotting clubs meet for their annual conference on the 10th, while the Wellington R.C. Winter Meeting and the annual New Zealand Racing Conference will take place later in the week, consequently our city should be surfeited with folks interested in sporting matters. The business which will come before the Racing Conference, including, as it does, the adoption of a set of reconstructed racing rules, will render it one of the most important conferences yet held. The Premier’s pointed references to the abuses attendant on racing and various other questions that have recently been raised by those who have the interest of pure sport at heart, may be expected to occupy the attention of the New Zealand Turf Parliament during their annual session.

The question of the allocation of dates is one that is sure to give rise to much discussion. Hitherto many clubs have, after mature consideration, decided upon certain dates as most suitable for their districts; their applications have in many instances been lightly waived aside and an intimation sent them that they must choose some other date that will meet with the approval of the chairman of the Conference. This usually leads to disaster, and it goes without saying that local officials are in the best position to know the date most suitable for their meetings.

From inquiries made 1 learn that a large number of loose boxes have been bespoke by visiting trainers, and the W.R.C. should experience a capital meeting. At the time of writing the weather has taken up, and there is every prospect of the training tracks and course propel’ being in good order while the visiting horses are here. The Porirua representatives are reported as all in good nick, and should they fail to score during the meeting it will not be for lack of condition. The Hutt-trained horses have been exercised whenever possible on the sand; this, with plenty of trotting on the roads, will render them fairly fit to battle against the redoubtable visitors that may be expected. The Napier Park betting operations ended largely in favour of backers. On the strength of advice wired from the course punters were most consistent in selecting winners. In a number of cases the money simply poured into the starting-price layers, and on the concluding day of the meeting a lot of money was wired from here back to the racecourse. This probably accounts for Fontenoy only paying £1 7s in the Brooklands Hack Handicap. Comfort in the Poraiti Hurdle Handicap and Kohatu in the Farewell Steeplechase were sent through from the course as “ morals,” and I hear that some of the coin invested on them here found its way on to the totalisator. The success of the Victorian Racehorse Owners’ Association has evidently been observed by a number of New Zealand racing men, as I hear that it is con-

templated forming a like association in this colony. I am given to understand that a number of prominent owners have expressed their willingness to fall in with those who consider such an association would be in the interest of owners, and it seems only a matter of the latter being called together to enable them to be banded together for their common good. An ex-secretary of an influential racing club has been approached, and it is not unlikely that the matter may be discussed at a meeting of owners held about the time of the Wellington races.