OTAGO.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 853, 12 July 1906, Page 7

OTAGO.

Dunedin, July 17. To those who take an interest in local racing matters and are anxious that the gathering held by the Dunedin Jockey Club should keep pace with those held in the North, it will be pleasing to note that the dominant tone adopted at the annual meeting of our metropolitan club was one of cheerful satisfaction at the result of the fixtures held at Wingatui during the year. The season just closing is the most successful one which the club has experienced for the past 15 years, and after careful steering the tide of adversity appears to have been safely navigated, a matter on which the leading spirits of the club are deserving of congratulation. One reason why the club has not made a more rapid progress in the past is because bad weather has not infrequently been responsible for small attendances at some of the meetings. There has been a lack of shelter for the outside patrons, but the initial gathering of next season will probably see a stand erected for their convenience, and this should tend to greatly enhance the popularity of Wingatui. The Wingatui racecourse is an ideal spot to spend a few hours when the weather is in a kindly mood, but unfortunately the reverse has been the experience of the past. With adequate shelter for the D.J.C. patrons the unwelcome attentions of Jupiter Pluvius can be ignored, and the money spent on the stand will prove a highly judicious investment. Another matter which has retarded the financial progress of the club is the fact that the expense of bringing horses to the Wingatui meetings is too high when compared with the amount of money which can be won in stakes. This is easily the most serious matter which the club has to deal with, and it would be only reasonable if the programme for next season is drafted with some courage. One’s patriotism does not allow one to look complacently on a metropolitan programme which is rivalled by a country club, and the present is a most opportune time for our premier racing body to regain some of the prestige it held in the days when half the clubs at present existing were unheard of. The gross profits of the Wingatui season amounted to over £2OOO, and it is to be hoped a good portion of this amount will be tacked on to next year’s programme, because where the stakes are worth winning there will be plenty after the spoil, and when the sport is worth witnessing the public are generally found strongly mustering along the rails of our tracks.

A number of persons were prosecuted last week for betting in a place, and the cases have been adjourned for a week. The alleged place is said to be that boxes, etc., used by fielders who were looking over the fence at the last Tahuna Park meeting. At the same time a man named Walter Clark was fined £5 and costs, 13s, for betting tote odds at the D.J.C. Winter Meeting. The Blackstone—Red Riding Hood colt purchased by Mr. Jas. McKewen some few weeks ago, broke both his front legs through falling whilst cantering at Forbury Park on Tuesday morning. It appears the colt crossed his legs and fell heavily, with the result mentioned, and a friendly bullet put him out of pain. The accident is a piece of bad luck for Mr. McKewan, as the colt was developing into a very promising youngster.

It. is quite possible that Ailsa will rejoin McDonald’s team at Wingatui and remain there until the beginning of the season, but Cavatina is expected to leave the post for the paddock at once. The Southland horses, Sea Lion, Blackstone, and Bayonet are advertised to be sold by auction in Melbourne on July 31. The stallions Obligado and Rosemere are on offer for leasing, as their owner is leaving on a visit to Australia.