THE FLEET WEEK RACE MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 956, 2 July 1908, Page 5

THE FLEET WEEK RACE MEETING.

A GOOD PROGRAMME ARRANGED In our last issue there appeared a synopsis of the programme for the special race meeting to be given at Ellerslie in honour of the visit of the United States fleet of battleships. This programme will be round in our advertising columns, and is of a nature calculated to prove popular with owners. The races on the list are as follows:—Welcome Hurdle Race of 125sovs, one mile and a-half; the Admirals’ Handicap of llOsovs, five furlongs; the Roosevelt Handicap of 300 sove, one mile; the Sperry Steeplechase of 250sovs, three miles; the Connecticut Steeplechase for hunters) of 150sovs, two and a-half miles; and the Fleet Handicap of 200sovs, five furlongs. Mr. O’Connor will act as starter, Mr. Lusk as judge, while Mr. R. Wynyard will do the handicapping. Bookmakers will be charged a fee of £2O for licenses to bet, with 10s for a clerk. There is one little point which has been possibly overlooked. It is possible that among the American officers there may be some fine horsemen who would not only enjoy a ride over such a course as the Connecticut Steeplechase provides, but would do thorough justice to their mounts. One of the very finest amateur riders we have ever seen in the colonies was a naval officer, a lieutenant on H.M.S. Orlando, who is said to have been the original of Patterson’s famous poem, “ The Amateur Rider.” America is noted for its horsemen, but should such a one be there ought he to be barred out ? The point is a small one, but it is worth noting.

It is perhaps a little unfortunate that the meeting should clash with the Grand National Meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club, but this, of course, was entirely unavoidable. The committee to manage the Fleet Week meeting will be the A.R.C. executive, together with the chairmen and secretaries of the Avondale and Takapuna Jockey Clubs. Owners should note that nominations will close with Mr. J. F. Hartland at the A.R.C. office on Friday, July 17, at 9 p.m. Weights will appear on Monday, July 27, while acceptances close on Friday, July 31. Given fine weather on the eventful day, this special meeting should prove one of the most popular ever held at Ellerslie.