THE WANGANUI JOCKEY CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 964, 27 August 1908, Page 5

THE WANGANUI JOCKEY CLUB.

The Wanganui Jockey Club have made a move in the right direction by increasing the stake money to be given away during the 1908-9 season by £505, as compared with last season. Owners will no doubt appreciate the club’s action in this matter, as well as the alterations made in the conditions attached to the Jackson Stakes, the prize money in which will be increased to £5OO in 1910. An extra £5O has been tacked on to the Wanganui Cup, which will be worth £650 in March next. A similar addition has been made to the Wanganui Stakes on the second day of the Autumn Meeting, and £3O to the Farewell Handicap. The club has made an alteration suggested in these columns after the last Winter meeting by bringing the Century Hurdles forward to the first day in place of the May Hurdles, which will be run on the second day. Another suggestion made in the “Review” has also been adopted, viz., the striking out of one of the steeplechase events on the second day, and the inclusion in place thereof of an open flat handicap. The Empire Handicap takes the place of the Final Steeples, the prize money being £175 and the distance one mile and a distance. With the Empire Handicap, the Connolly Handicap, Borough Handicap, and Winter Oats, owners will have more inducement to take their horses to Wanganui for the flat events, more especially as £5O extra has been added to the Connolly Handicap, which is decided on the first day. The Gran stand Steeples will be worth £250 as against £l50 —a fact which would ensure a bigger field not only in that event, but also in the Wanga-

nui Steeplechase on the first day. Previously the owners of some of the best of the visiting ’chasers did not care to risk sending their horses for either the Grandstand or Final Steeples as the stake money was too small. No doubt owners will appreciate having only the two steeplechase events with decent stake money. The club is to be congratulated in thus endeavouring to popularise its gatherings, and the results should be eminently satisfactory.