WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1077, 27 October 1910, Page 8

WANGANUI.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

WANGANUI, October 26.

The Waverley-Waitotara Racing Club’s meeting, to be held on November 9, is being looked forward to with a deal of interest by racing enthusiasts on this coast. Although the day will not be observed as a general holiday this year as in the past, still there is every reason to anticipate that the gathering will be a big success, as it is always a popular one. The weights for the handicap events have been declared by Mr. G. Morse, and, as usual, he has left little room for criticism of his adjustments, so that there should be good acceptances and some splendid racing. Since last meeting the club’s course has been improved, and the appointments brought well up to date. The result is that the club is now in possession of a very fine track, with first-class appointments, and with good fields assured, combined with excellent management, the sport to be provided on the 9th should be of the most enjoyable description. The field for the Cup promises to be quite one of the best yet seen out at this meeting, those engaged including such good hacks as Maggie Paul, Notorious, Valentine, Mallet, St. Lumsden, Attention and others, while the hurdles will also be contested by a large field- All that is wanted apparently to secure a record success is fine weather.

The fact that Lady Lucy is back to something like her best form, and that she put up a track record the other day at Flemington for ten furlongs, has inspired, many on this coast with the hope that she will prevail in the Melbourne Cup, to be decided tomorrow week. It would be a very popular win if the Fordell-trained mare did score in the big event, and thus bring further honour to a district which has done so much to bring renown to the Dominion in the world of sport, and also music—for we are just now enthusing over the victory of the Wanganui Garrison Band at the Ballarat contest in both the tests and the quickstep. It was Arthur Holder who first brought a world’s record to Wanganui, when he broke Aucklander T. Roberts’ quarter-milo amateur hurdle record, and subsequently in

Auckland met and defeated the Northern crack, and still further cut the record. Then W. Webb, after defeating Stanbury on the Wanganui River, visited Sydney, and won the proud title of world’s championship sculler for the Dominion. Following this came the visit of the Wanganui Union Boating Club’s four at Hobart, where they beat the picked crews of the Australian States, a feat which other New Zealand crews had previously attempted without success. Now we are celebrating the wins of the Garrison Band, who have accomplished a performance unique in the history of New Zealand band music. It only remains for Lady Lucy to win the Melbourne Cup next week to give residents of this town and district further cause for rejoicing. And the probabilities are that if she does return to the paddock a winner, it will be to the accompaniment of music supplied by the Wanganui Band, which has been invited to play on the first two days of the V.R.C- Spring Meeting, and will receive a big fee if they accept the invitation.

A. Hall will be leaving here, probably on Wednesday, with St. Bill, North-East and Egotist, for Auckland. It is doubtful whether Beacon will make the trip, as it was understood he, was to be taken to Waverley. However, he is not engaged in any of the handicap events there,, so that it may be that he will go North, too. The three first-mentioned are all in capital condition, and should run well in their engagements.

The three-year-old colt Grandee, owned by the local sport, Mr. “R. Narqlle,” is now an inmate of W. Rayner’s stable, where the same owner’s Shannon Lass is also located. Grandee has grown into a fine cut of a three-year-old, and is fast getting into fettle. The full brother to Vi has the look of a colt which should prove very brilliant.

There was considerable disappointment amongst backers here when it was found that California had not been accepted for in the New Zealand Cup, and he had been freely supported. Coronetted was also fairly well backed, while Provocation had been coupled with nearly everything, so that his withdrawal from the Stewards’ should be a relief to bookmakers.

Merrie Zealand, on whom the Wanganui horseman, F. Coleman, was to have had the mount, has dropped out out of the New Zealand Cup. St. Bill is to be given a chance to earn further distinction on the flat at Auckland after his failure over hurdles at the Rangitikei meeting in his one attempt.