WEST COAST.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1163, 25 July 1912, Page 9

WEST COAST.

(From our own Correspondent.) WANGANUI, Monday. Readers of these notes must have been prepared to hear of the victories gained by Kilrain at Trentham, as the Kilcheran colt was reported to be in splendid fettle and to have put up some good gallops last week. The dividend paid by the colt, on the opening day was surprisingly large considering how well the youngster had shaped at Otaki, when the going was as heavy as it was at Trentham. Fred Tilley ought to win some good races with this colt next season. Antarctic was not much fancied here for the Wellington Steeplechase in consequence of reports from Trentham that the Salvadan gelding had pulled up very lame after a go over the schooling fences on the Monday. He was very groggy again after Wednesday’s race, and it remains to be. seen whether he will be fit to start at Riccarton. Providing he can keep, going he should be a much improved gelding by the time the Grand National is decided to what he is now. Goodwin Park carried a lot of Wanganui money in the Winter Hurdles, but failed to run into a place. It may be that the going was against him. I learn that there is every probability of Mr E. J. Watt sending a fairly strong team to Sydney at an early date, including Royal Scotch, Midnight Sun, and Ventura, all wellknown performers, also Jason (a two-year-old colt by Achilles), who is engaged in the Breeders’ Stakes. This latter colt is said to be shaping in .very promising style, and hopes are entertained that he will turn out to be a top-notcher. " There are quite a number of horses being got ready for the Egmont-Wa-nganui Hunt Club meeting, nominations for which close on the 10th August. It is pleasing to know that there is some prospect of the leading Hunt Clubs being granted tote permits in the near future. These clubs do a lot towards producing the best stamp of horses, and therefore are well worthy of encouragement. It is satisfactory to know that there is every indication of the forthcoming meeting here being a very successful one. The decision of the Minister of Internal Affairs to restore a two-days’ face meeeting to the Rangitikei Club is one which will meet with the approval of the great bulk of race-goers on this coast. It was generally considered that the club was harshly dealt with in being deprived of both its meetings, seeing' that the club had been in existence for 55 years. The members certainly had a good case for protest, and it is satisfactory to know that persistent efforts of prominent members have received their just reward. They are to be congratulated on being allowed two days’ racing. It is to be regretted that the granting of the two days’ racing to Rangitikei, means depriving the Marton Club of one day’s racing, but it could not well have been otherwise. The

Marton Club has gone in for a very progressive policy lately, and bids fair to become one of the most popular racing institutions on the coast. In all likelihood the spring meeting will be limited to one day in the future, though it remains to be seen what dates the Rangitikei Club will race on.