WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 1006, 17 June 1909, Page 8

WELLINGTON.

WELLINGTON, June 14

J. W. Lowe has taken the Hack Steeplechase candidate Aroha and the Soult mare Iranui to Hastings, with the view of continuing their engagements at the Hawkes Bay winter meeting. The pair are nicely treated, especially Iranui, and should run prominently during the meeting.

W. Davies has continued the engagement of Yosami. I have not heard whether The Officer mare has been taken to Hastings. The trio mentioned comprise the whole of the locally-trained representatives that will figure on the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s card, most local owners preferring to wait for the Wellington winter meeting, which opens at Trentham on July. 18, and for which nominations will be received on June 21. The decision of the executive of the Wellington Racing Club to increase the added money of the Wellington Steeplechase and Winter Hurdle Handicap is much appreciated by owners of jumpers, and increased nominations should result. Owners of the latter class of horses would have welcomed an additional steeplechase being added to the winter programme, and there was some talk of a Maiden Handicap Steeplechase being included in the first day’s events. Judged by the large number of maiden ’chasers that are now in training, a numerous entr.v could reasonably have been expected. A syndicate, composed of four of the oldest-established and most respected local metallicians, has secured a lease of the upper portion of what was at one time the Wellington Atheneum. The premises, which are centrally situated, are being renovated and altered with the view of being turned into commodious club rooms, which will include social, billiard and commercial rooms. The proprietors propose inviting a number of leading citizens who take an interest in sport to form themselves into a Tattersail’s Club, to which only those approved of by a committee will be admitted io membership. As bookmaking is now a recognised calling, there is urgent

need for some mode of discrimination, and the step proposed will appeal to most sporting men as in the right direction.

The Otaki Racing Club’s lease of the racecourse that they have hitherto raced upon, will expire prior to the date of the club’s spring meeting. The new racecourse, which was laid out last spring, is reported to be in firstrate order, and I understand that the executive of the club will make every endeavour to have the grandstand and appointments in position in ample time for the new course to be used for the club’s spring meeting on Labour Day.