WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 879, 10 January 1907, Page 9

WANGANUI.

WANGANUI, Jan. 9.

Mr. W. Davis, the well-known Hutt trainer, purchased Pardon from Mr. Walter Young during the Rangitikei meeting. The sum paid for the gelding was £5O. Weary Bill broke down badly at Bulls, and it will be a long time before the Australian gelding will race again. Some dissatisfaction was expressed with regard to the working of the double machine at the Christmas meeting of the Taranaki Jockey Club. Messrs. Neylon and Spriggens, it may be mentioned, had the working of the other machines in hand, but had nothing to do with the double machine. Jack Pot has been purchased by Mr. Dugald Thomson, and the hurdler will be trained in future by Alick Hall.

The local jockeys, Willie and Geo. Price, each had three winning mounts at Rangitikei. A promising three-year-old in Tan San will be seen out at the Foxton meeting on the 22nd. Tan San is by San Fran from Tamora, and belongs to Mr. Walter Young. I understand that the Warrengate Jockey Club intend holding their annual meeting on March 22. In all probability the prize money for the Cup will be raised from £25 to £5O. The sport provided at this little meeting is of a real genuine kind, notwithstanding that the class of horses which compete are only moderate, and a most enjoyable outing the trip to Fordell is.

Fontenoy and Colleen were not backed very much locally jfor the races they annexed iat Auckland, but the followers of the stable who lost over Armistice in the Cup got their money back over the successes of the pair mentioned. Fontenoy appears to be well treated at Wellington, as the son of Haut Brion has only 7.3 to carry in the Telegraph Handicap, of six furlongs. Delamere, 8.5, has quite enough in the same race, considering she is only a little ’un; but she is really brilliant when well, and hence may have to be reckoned with. She put up two splendid performances at the spring meeting of the local club, and if in the same form on the 22nd inst., will shake up all the cracks.

George Laing took Westward over to the Wairarapa meeting, but had no luck with the Sou’-wester gelding,

which may, however, pick up a stake or two during he steeplechasing season, as he is more at home over the fences than the little sticks. Colleen looks to have a good chance in the Ruapehu Hack Handicap at Wellington, in which the Gossoon filly has 7.11. She carried 7.7 when she won the Robinson Handicap of seven furlongs at Auckland, and as she scored easily from a very fair field in Imin 29 2-ssec., she should be amongst them when the whips are cracking at Trentham. The Wanganui Jockey Club have issued their programme for their autumn meeting, which takes place on March 8 and 9. The total amount of stake money is £.3245, which is a slight advance on last year. The prize money in the Cup has been reduced to £6OO, but in other events increases have been made as follows: — Westmere Hurdles, from £l5O to £175; Tayforth Hack Hurdles, from £lOO to £110; Petre Welter, from £lOO to £125; Wiritoa Hack Race, from £lOO to £120; Fordell Hurdles, £l2O to £150; Okoia Hack Hurdles, £lOO to £110; Harrison Welter, £lOO to £125; Matarawa Hack, £lOO to £110; and Farewell, £lOO to £l2O. The lopping off of £l5O from the Cup will not detract one iota from the interest taken in that event, while the other events should fill better as the result of the added money. Nominations close with Mr. Wm. Hall, the secretary, on January 25. A rumour was freely circulated at Bulls on the Ist inst. that George Walls, who had been seriously hurt through a fall off Prospector on the last day of the Manawatu meeting, was dead. Fortunately, there was no truth in the rumour, but the many friends of this popular rider were sorry to hear that he had a bad turn last Thursday. However, if kindly wishes can do any good, George will not be long in making a recovery. Another very popular rider in Billy Higgins met with a nasty accident at Bulls the first day, when Weary Bill appeared to make no effort to rise at the last jump when leading, with the result that the horse came down on his knees and Higgins fell on the side of his face and neck on the ground, which was as hard as a metalled road almost. Higgins was unconscious for some time, but then rallied for a while, only to fall off again into a state of semi-consciousness. Latest reports to hand show that Billy was still in a rather bad way, and another doctor had been secured. Billy is one of the most popular riders we have ever had down this way, and his many friends sincerely hope that he will make a speedy recovery.