WEST COAST.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1159, 27 June 1912, Page 10

WEST COAST.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) WANGANUI, Monday. The death is announced of Handsome Ja?k, sire of Roseal, The Comet’ Handsome Maid, and other fair performers. Roseal was a real good one, but was unlucky, otherwise his record would b ave been a capital one. In all likelihood John will be nominated for the Grand National HurdlesJack Stewart has been on the Cuirassier gelding’s back in one or two spins over the schooling hurdles recently, the gelding acquitting himself very well. The three-year-old colt Kilrain is the first horse Mr E. Short has raced. and apparently he is going to prove a good one. He opened his winning career at Otaki, and made many friends by the way he galloped. He is likely to win some good races next season.

The Feilding Jockey Club are carrying out a big system of drainage, while the terrace in front of the

grandstand is being concreted and the stand buildings painted. E. Murtagh is now attached to Delaney’s stable at Feiiding.

S. Anderson, a young Auckland rider, has accepted an engagement under Mr J. Delaney at Feilding. Antarctic was scratched this morning for all engagements at the Napier .Park meeting. The gelding is going on all right, but is to be reserved for Wellington. A large number of racing people will thoroughly endorse the remarks of the Hon. G. W. Russell in replying to a deputation from the Otago Hunt Club asking for favourable consideration of an application for a totalisator permit for a one-day meeting per annum. The Minister said that if the matter of allocation of racing permits came into his hands next month he intended to have a say, together with the racing clubs, with regard to programmes. He expressed the opinion that many sprinting events — four and five-furlong races —should be swept off the programmes of ordinary racing clubs and replaced by races in which weight-carrying and other horses fit for re-mounts were engaged. He would use permits for the purpose of raising the standard of the breed of horses, so that the country might be able to supply re-mounts to the Old Land. There is no getting away from the fact that too many short sprint events figure on the programmes at some of the meetings,

and they do not tend to in any way improve the stamp of horses. From Mr Russell’s remarks, it would seem that some of the leading hunt clubs stand a chance of getting tote permits if he has the power to grant them, and there is little doubt this would be a move in the right direction, as hunt clubs are worthy of encouragement. In this connection the claims of the Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club for a permit cannot be overlooked providing any such clubs are granted permits. It is a strong club, and has been instrumental in bringing out a large number of the right stamp of horses for remounts. The Wanganui Jockey Club are pushing on with the scheme of improvements to the grandstand, tote house, and other buildings. With a view to enlarging the lawn, the outside stand has been removed about a chain and a half from its old site, and the tote house will also be shifted and considerably enlarged, and other alterations made. When these are completed there should be ample facilities for speculators for some time to come without any of the jostling which goes on at present. It is probable that the additions to the grandstand will be field over until after the spring meeting, but in- the meantime the erection of the glass tea kiosk will be proceeded with. It

is to be hoped that when these improvements have been completed the club will turn its attention to the outside, and do something to improve the comfort of those who do not patronise the lawn. At present very little consideration is shown the outsiders, and the enlargement of the lawn will not help to • improve matters from their point of view, as they will be shut further away than ever from the finishing post. However, such a progressive club is not likely to overlook this matter, and no doubt something will be done in the direction of adding to the comfort and convenience of the outsiders in due course.