WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 993, 18 March 1909, Page 7

WANGANUI.

WANGANUI, March 17

Moose is suffering from an attack of influenza and has been turned out for a speii. The Sou-’wester gelding’s disappointing display at the Wanganui meeting was no doubt due to the fact that he was feeling the effects of the influenza, coming on. The Fatea Racing Club have decided to hold their annual meeting, which takes place on Easter Monday on

the Hawera rcecourse, owing to both the new and the old courses at Patea being unfit to race upon. The Egmont Club have agreed to let their course for the day for £25- What arrangements will be come to with regard to the totalisator are not yet known. The Egmont Club run their own machine, but the Patea Club have let the working of a machine for their meetings to Messrs Neylon and Spriggens. The Wanganui Trotting Club are out with a fine programme for their two days’ meeting, to be held on the 22nd and 24th April. A total of 500 sovs is to be given away in prize money during the two days—£27o on the first day and £230 on the second. The principal event on the first day will be the Wanganui Cup of 80 sovs, two miles, while on the second the chief attraction will be the April Handicap of 60 sovs. All of the events will be optional, saddle or harness. Nominations for all events will close on Thursday, April 1, with the secretary, Mr Selby Morton. Considering that the inaugural meeting of the club held last December was such a big /success without the totalisator, the club should have a splendid meeting now that a permit has been granted.

The night’s solid rain, experienced here last Friday was badly needed, as the tracks were very hard, and trying on the horses. The going has been greatly improved, much to the relief of those trainers who have horses with “ dicky ” understandingsBy the way, a statement has been published that the times recorded on the second day of the Wanganui meeting were not to be relied upon, as there was some doubt as to the distances being correct on the No. 1 training track which was used. For the information of those who were of opinion that the distances were short, it may be mentioned that they were all absolutely correct, having been surveyed in the first place and measured again last week by the custodian, so that the times registered can be accepted as correct, particularly as in the Jackson Stakes, and other events, private watches made the time even a shade faster than the official. Information is to hand from Australia to the effect that Signor might have won the Champion Stakes had his rider (R. Cameron) not stopped riding him five lengths from home, after the son of Pilgrim’s Progress had repassed Pendill. It is said that Cameron evidently mistook the winning post.

The Wanganui Jockey Club’s committee have had several proposals for the improvement of the racing track, or that part of it where the going was so bad at the recent meeting, under consideration, but it is probable that before anything in the nature of returfing the bad portion is attempted, an effort will be made to secure good results by having the track systematically watered. With this end in view water pipes are to be put round the course at once, and a plentiful supply kept on the troublesome portion, which will also be well rolled. This should have the effect desired, and before long there should be a good growth of grass, which is all that is needed to make this portion equal to the rest of the going, which could not be surpassed anywhere. The Sylvia Park colt Ecologue is now an inmate of A. Atwood’s stable at Feilding, where his owner (Mr. O’Neill) has recently taken over an hotel.

There is every likelihood of Wanganui being well represented at the forthcoming Taranaki meeting, as amongst those entered for that gathering are Maniapoto, Tan San, Belario, Shannon Lass, Retort, Research, Whimper, and Overtime. The first named has not done much on the tracks, which have been too hard for him; but Powell has him fairly well forward, as he has given him plenty of swimming and work on the sand. The others have all shown very good form recently, and appear to have been nicely weighted.

The Wanganui Jockey Club made a profit of over £lOOO on the Cup meeting.