WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1046, 24 March 1910, Page 7

WANGANUI.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

WANGANUI, March 21. Lovers of racing will have an opportunity of witnessing some excellent sport on Easter Monday, when the Patea Racing Club will hold their annual meeting. The Club is to be congratulated on the manner in which the track has been prepared for the forthcoming meeting. It is in splendid condition, and the club can pride

itself upon having one of the finest tracks on the coast. The acceptances are expected to be very large, and fine weather is all that will then be required to make the meeting an unqualified success. George Lang wi.l probably take Marutoa up to Patea, also Clorinda. The former is engaged in the Hurdles, and C.orinda will, ali going well, be a starter in the Flying ana Borough HanQxcaps. W. Raynor will take Voca, Kauroa, and Sea Wind to Patea, while Research, another of his team, will most likely race at Feilding. North East has been nominated for the Longburn and Dominion Handicaps, both of which events are run over a mile and a furlong, at the Manawatu Autumn meeting. The Euroclydon gelding should have no trouble in seeing out the distance, and if not overweighted will take a lot of beating. The nominations received for the above meeting are excellent, and points to the club having a most successful gathering. Mr. A. Bennett, of Taihape, recently received a letter and a stud card from Mr. John Huby, the groom in charge of the famous Welbeck stud, which reads:—l have just received your letter, in which you ask for a? little hair from Carbine’s tail. As the horse was bred in New Zealand, I am glad to oblige you, and am enclosing a portion of hair, I/have taken from his tail. The old horse carries his years very well, and ■ could not look better but .as he is how about 24 years old, we cannot expect him to go on many years longer.” - . Wanganui sportsmen who visited Opunake for the annual meeting of the'club there on the 17th inst., report that the gathering was a big success from every point of view. The attendance was a record, while the totalisators figures for the day were £4,212, as against £2,189 last year, and seven bookmakers were licensed at £l5 10s, as against four at last year’s races. Larger fields faced the starter than on previous occasions, and this with good weather, all helped to make it a success.

The Handicap Hurdles, went to Nero, Lockguard, oeing second, and Somali third. The other starters included Lingerer, Toddy, Taupo and Highden.

Contralto scored in the Flying, from Valentine and Timothy. The winner scored comfortably. Clemency, Lady Heroine, Queen’s Prize, and Kopbnga were amongst the also starteds.

A big field started in the Maiden Trot, which fell to Vibon.

The chief event of the day, the Racing Club Handicap, wa s appropriated by Paul, 8.5, Bismarck, 8.7, second, and. Maggie Paul, 9.0, third. Starboard, Valentine, and The Leader, also ran. 1 Paul got home after a splendid race by a neck, and paid a good dividend.

W. Price, who rode Contralto in the Flying, also steered Nukuhau to victoryin the Electric Stakes, in which a big field started. Mr. . Jas. Bull’s The Native ran second.

Vibon was again “hot stuff” in the Handicap Trot, and won with the greatest of ease.

The Welter went to Timothy, Lady Heroine, second, and Royal Youngster third. Seven others ran. Lady Lupin was the favourite, but the winner was well backed.

Price scored his third win on Nukuhau in the Final Stakes, the Native again finishing second, and St. Venton third. Four others started. The acceptances received for the Warrengate meeting to be held on Thursday, are really good, and some excellent sport should be provided patrons of this popular “picnic” gathering.