WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1138, 1 February 1912, Page 11

WELLINGTON.

WELLINGTON, January 29. The Wellington Racing Club’s summer meeting that was brought to a conclusion on Wednesday last will long be remembered as the most successful in the history of the club. There was a numerous attendance on each of the three days, and consequently the totalisator figures disclosed a big increase on those of last year, the figures for the meetings being 1911 £52,102, 1912 £83,315, thus showing an increase of £31,213 in favour of the recent gathering.

The starting of Mr. C. O’Connor, who was ably assisted by Mr. A. Vincent, was one of the features at the recent W.R.C. meeting. The send-offs were timed to a nicety, the only diagreeableness being long delays at the post

before the fields were sent on theii errands.

Gladiole returned her supporters a very acceptable dividend when she won at Trentham. The chestnut is very well at present, and she should soon be caught in a winning mood before the season is much further advanced.

M. McGrath, who has been on a holiday visit to the Dominion, returned to Australia on Friday last and he took with him Puaka and a pony by name Palsethia. Both have shown some galloping ability, and they should pay their way in events in the vicinity of Melbourne.

First Consul has been returned to his owner, Mr. W. D. Watson, of Masterton. There is every probability that the Conqueror horse when next he races will be known as a gelding.

Splendid weather was experienced for the annual meeting of the Foxton Racing Club. Excellent fields contested the several events, and the finishes were such as to place the judge (Mr. J. R. White) in a quandary in

hoisting the right numbers. There were several head and half-head victories, with the same between second and third in several instances. There was a substantial increase on the totalisatoi' figures of last year, and the club should show a good profit after all expenses are paid. Mr. F. S. Easton’s bad luck stuck to him through the Foxton meeting. He had a useful team to carry his colours, but the best urs horses could do was to run a second and a third in their several contests. Negative was shipped to Blenheim on Friday last. The gelding has been running at several meetings recently, but has failed to show any form. His next appearance will probably be at the Marlborough meeting. A couple of North Island jumpers in Longner and Gold Bird have been nominated in hurdle events at the. Dunedin meeting. Both are very fair performers, and if taken South they should pay expenses on the trip.

Mr. H. Whitney has nominated Odessa for the Dunedin Cup. This St. Ambrose horse is a capable galloper and is sure to be hard to beat in the event named, provided, of course, he sees the post. Mr. A. J. Toxward, owner of Sanguinary, was asked to put a price on the Sylvia Park filly during the progress of the W.R.C. meeting. Mr. Toxward, however, refused to sell, and she still remains under F. Tilley’s guidance at Fordell.

Hermia continues to misbehave herself at the starting post. But for this incident the Birkenhead mare would assuredly have won a race at the W.R.C. meeting.

Returned sportsmen from the Foxton meeting speak in high terms of the starting of Mr. Angus Keith. His despatches were a treat to witness, and provided he gets the opportunity Mr. Ke?'th should make a decided acquisition to the ranks of starters in the Dominion. Mr. J. R. McDonald, the Levin sportsman, won a double at Trentham

with his Achilles —Shannon colt Styx, who won his two events in good style. The youngster, who is trained by J. H. Prosser at Porirua, gives promise of turning out useful. The stable presided over by G. Price at Awapuni won seven races at the recent W.R.C. meeting. The bearers of the “Highden” colours were turned out in such capital trim as to reflect the highest credit ,on Price, whose many friends were glad to see him in such form.