WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 854, 19 July 1906, Page 7

WELLINGTON.

Wellington, July 18. The W.R.C.’s first Steeplechase Meeting at Trentham racecourse was a thorough success. The secretary (Mr. A. E. Whyte) was most assiduous to those details which assure the club’s patrons enjoyable racing and visiting horse-owners and trainers convenience and comfort. Messrs. Piper and Hartgill were in their best form, and the openness of the racing and the large fields are evidence that Mr. Pollock’s handicaps had been carefully thought out. The duties of the honorary officials of the club were light, as they were not once called together during the meeting. Mr. Joseph Ames and his staff handled the large sum entrusted to them expeditiously, and all concerned can look back upon the meeting with satisfaction. Amongst the visitors who remained for Saturday and saw the meeting through were Sir Geo. Clifford, Messrs. Geo. G*. Stead and R. O. Campbell (Canterbury), M. McLean and John Marshall (Auckland), Hon. J. D. Ormond, T. H. Lowry, J. B. Adeane, H. Gaisford and John McVay (Hawke’s Bay). Mr. J. B. Williamson has left Irish at Trentham pending his taking into consideration the Grand National weights. Waiwera, Cavalry, Cuiragno are also still there. Slow Tom was taken home to Riccarton on Saturday. Stronghold and Chryseis were taken home the day previous. Sir Geo. Clifford’s pair ran so much below form on the first day that their owner decided to send them home forthwith. Stuart Waddel returned to Hastings with the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s team c-n Monday. Followers of stable commissions are much perturbed over Shrapnel’s win in the Winter Hurdle Race. Apparently they expect Mr. A. Hall to execute a large starting price commission on his horses each time they start. They overlook the fact that an owner can win a large sum through the medium of the totalisator. Those who follow commissions declare that no money was invested on Shrapnel with the S.P. merchants, consequently they arrive at the ridiculous conclusion that the horse must have bolted when he defeated Exmoor. This reminds me of an enquiry at which a steward asked an owner somewhat aggressively, “ How many tickets did you have on your horse on the machine?” The owner,

who was not a large bettor, indignantly replied: “ I presume I can race my horse for the stakes if I choose, and if your stakes were not worth racing for I would not have engaged my horse.” The enquiry soon terminated. Moccasin was somewhat sore after his efforts in the Wellington Steeplechase, and his owner had to decline his second day’s engagement. He will, however, be kept going in view of the C.J.C. Winter Meeting. Hydrant and Togos will accompany Moccasin to Riccarton. The owner of Mahutonga states that the horse will shortly proceed to Sydney and be placed in the stable presided over by F. McGrath at Randwick. Mahutonga’s present attendant will accompany the horse, which will be prepared for the spring racing at the A.J.C. Meeting. There is every prospect of Mahutonga returning to New Zealand in time to take part in the C.J.C. Spring Meeting. Some of Frank Higgott’s team are in very bad care. Old Shrapnel Shell has sprung a tendon, and may not be raced again. Petticoat ran very badly last week, and Clanburn is a back number. Cyrus was the only animal Higgott had fit to start on the second day of the Wellington meeting.