WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 952, 4 June 1908, Page 8

WANGANUI.

WANGANUI, June 1.

At a committee meeting of the Marton Jockey Club held on Wednesday night the programme for the September meeting was drawn up. The stakes were increased by 200 sovs., making a total of £ll4O for the two days. The dates to be submitted for the annual meeting are 2nd and 3rd September, 1908, and in view of a second permit being granted, the 26th and 27th February, 1909. The Wanganui Jockey Club’s Winter Meeting, which commenced so well on Saturday, 23rd May, was brought to a successful conclusion on the Monday. The weather, which was well nigh perfect on Saturday, was decidedly unpleasant on the second day, as rain fell steadily nearly all through, but this did not prevent a very satisfactory crowd attending, nor did it interfere much with the quality of the sport provided, which was of the most interesting and en-

joyable description. The acceptances were again good, and some excellent racing was witnessed in most of the events. At this stage it is not necessary to refer at any great length to the different events, but a few of the most interesting features of the day’s sport may be commented upon. There were twelve bookmakers’ licensed inside and a like number outside, and the sum of £9301 was put through the machine, making £11,140 for the meeting, as against £23,360 last year —a falling off of £4585. Waipu’s running in the Century Hurdles was in marked contrast to the form he displayed in the Hack Hurdles on the opening day, when he quite failed to make anything like a decent showing. On Monday, however, he shaped like the really good hurdler that he is, coming at the business end with a splendid effort and winning fairly easily from Compass, another gelding which gave a much better display than on the first day. The stewards held an inquiry into Waipu’s running, and the explanation given by the Torpedo gelding’s connections was considered satisfactory. It may be that the public would have been satisfied also had they heard the explanation, but the inquiry was not open to the Press, so that people have to be content with the assurance that a good excuse was offered for the remarkably strong reversal of form. On the first day Waipu was the favourite, but he was never in the hunt, so that it is no wonder his performance on the Monday was a staggerer to followers of form. It is stated that the owner had a good bet on his horse on the first day. Those behind The Stake had a good win over The Officer gelding’s victory on the Saturday, but they put in so heavily on the gelding in the Century Hurdles that they probably did not profit much by their visit here. Though The Dane did not run any too well in the Hack Hurdles on the Monday, the St. Clement’s gelding jumped nicely, and with more experience is likely to win a hurdle race or two.

The suggestion has been thrown out by “Achilles” in the local “Herald ” that the Wanganui Jockey Club should strike out the two small steeplechase events on the programme of their winter meeting, and substitute an open flat handicap event and one Steeplechase with good prize money attached. If this were done probably more horses would be nominated for the Wanganui Steeplechase on the first day, as there would be a chance for them winning a decent prize on the second day, whereas at present it is really not worth while starting a good horse in either of the concluding day’s steeples. It is also suggested that if the May Hurdles were run on the second day and the Century decided on the first day, bigger fields and better racing would be witnessed. From what can be gathered the proposals put forth are likely to be adopted; at any rate the general idea is that owners of jumpers would like to see the club make the experiment. The New Zealand Trotting Association has given the proposed Wanganui Trotting Club its quietus, at least for the time being, by refusing to grant its application for registration. The club was asked to apply again in six months. Some of the cross-country riders who have been over the Wanganui steeplechase course are inclined to think that the hencoop which brought Arahura down in the big steeple, when Fahey was fatally injured, is rather too formidable an obstacle for horses which have already raced over 2% miles. The jump is just four feet high, and is of course very solid. However, perhaps, if the hencoop were shifted from its present position—just at a corner —it would be much safer. It has often been said of late that the local steeplechase course is too easy to negotiate, that the jumps are practically no more formidable than in a hurdle race.

It is generally agreed that Mr Geo. Morse has never done better work than he did in connection with the late W.J.C. Meeting, during which his handicapping was responsible for capital fields and some of the finest racing and best finishes ever seen here. It was a splendid meeting, and it is good to know that the club will have a satisfactory balance to the profit account in connection with the gathering. The form shown by Tilson, Kaipetipeti, Faro, and Moosten over the big fences at Waanganui was very promising indeed, and one would probably not be far out in prophecying that the two former will prove two of the best ’chasers seen out for a long time. The hurdler General Peel has changed hands. The Linstock gelding is quite sound, and should prove a bargain to his new owner, even though the latter paid a fairly substantial price for him. Joe Stanley, the well-known local cross country rider, is leaving Wanganui for Auckland, where he has secured an engagement with C. Weal. Joe is not only a really good rider but he is one of the best behaved lads one could wish to drop across. He is an artist at schooling beginners over hurdles and fences, and should do well in the North. Considerable interest was taken in a trotting match decided on the local racecourse last Thursday (the 28th May) between Messrs W. J. Aynsley aand C. B. Giesen’s horses over two miles. In the 95 seconds Aynsley’s horse had covered half a mile, but a little later on tore off both front shoes, and was brought to a standstill. Going on again, Giesen’s horse managed to get up 100 yards from home, and going on won easily. On returning to the stable the winner suddenly lay down and died without a struggle. He. was a valuable animal, worth at least £lOO. A lot of money changed hands over the result.