WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1247, 12 March 1914, Page 16

WANGANUI.

Trotting Club to increase Stakes — Wanganui J.C.’s Winter Programme —Bon Ton’s Cup Failure —F. Tilley’s Team for Auckland R.C. Easter Meeting — Waverley-Waito-tara R.C. Improvements.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

WANGANUI, Monday.

The Wanganui Trotting Club will, it is understood, offer at least £lOOO in prize money for its next meeting. The Cup will probably be worth £2OO or £250, and the stakes in all the other events very substantially increased. It is hoped that the increased prize money will induce owners to bring some of the crack trotters here, and in such case this form of sport wll get a big lift in public favour.

Although the Wanganui Jockey Club gave away some £350 more in prize money at the recent Cup meeting than at the previous year’s meeting, the profit made was quite as large as in 1913. This must be very gratifying to those responsible for the conduct of the club’s affairs, and also to owners, as it means that further increases may be looked for next season.

Now that the Cup meeting is a matter of history, it is worth noting that four of the principal events at the winter meeting of the Wanganui Jockey Club will all be worth considerably more than last year. The Borough Handicap has been increased in value from £175 to £2OO, the May Hurdles from £2OO to £250, the Empire Handicap from £225 to £250, and the Grandstand Steeplechase from £3OO to £350. The Wanganui Steeplechase and Century Hurdles have not had any increase made to them, being already richly endowed, as the former is worth £6OO and the Century Hurdles £3OO. Such good prize money should attract the very best class of horses both for the flat and the jumping events. There is little doubt that Bon Ton would have run a better race in the Cup here had he not been asked to do what savoured almost of the impossible, viz., compete in the Dunedin Cup nine days before the Wanganui Cup was run and then travel up here. The trip necessitated four days’ travelling, during which time, of course, he could get in no work, and this must have interfered with his prospects very considerably. The suggestion was made last year that a greater margin should be made between the dates of these two meetings, and Bon Ton’s experience will probably lead to a further agitation in that direction. Unless an alteration is made the chances are that few, if any, owners will try to win both cups in future, and one or both meetings will suffer in consequence. According to the racing calendar it would be an easier matter for the Dunedin meeting to be held a week or so earlier than for the Wanganui meeting to be held at a later date than now.

Since the Cup meeting Aruake has been allowed to take things easily, he having been restricted to slow work the reverse way, with a view to saving his legs. W. Rayner is

keeping Brunswick, Sweet Zinnia and Sweet Van going steadily in view of the Rangitikei meeting, where the former should run well, taking his Wanganui running as a guide. Provided he keeps sound, it is more track, but he is not being asked to do much yet, though he is gettingplenty of swimming, and this appears to agree with him. Rangimaru, another of C. Gordon’s, is occasionally sent over the hurdles, and he is clearing them in good style. He was always a .fine jumper, but the way he is shaping now points to the likelihood of him showing more pace over the obstacles this season.

Provided he keeps sonud, it is more than likely that Coromandel will be entered for the Century Hurdles. It was recently reported that he had gone amiss, but he was racing at the Cup meeting and showed no signs of lameness. Since then he has been put over the hurdles, and hopes are entertained that he will do well this season at the jumping game. A. Jackson is not giving Roosevelt any track work, but he gets a fair amount of swimming. His other charge, Square Deal, is being kept at steady work in view of the Rangitikei meeting.

A few early backers were dsappointed -when they found Postillion’s name missing from the list of entries for the Easter Handicap at Auckland, and it was expected by them he would be a starter in that event. Though not engaged in the Easter Handicap, it is understood the son of Advance will be one of F. Tilley’s

team for Auckland, and it is certain that he will be well supported in whatever race he starts at Ellerslie. Austin and Bonny Helen have both been engaged in the Easter. The former is in good nick, and on the form he showed in the Autumn Han dicap here must be given a chance in the big mile race at Ellerslie. Bonny Helen’s special mission will probably be the Oaks, but if started in the Easter she may be depended upon to run a good race, as she is a better filly than many think. Murt. Gardner has Lord Lupin, Fisher and Zetes in regular work at Waervley, the intention being to take the three to Auckland at Easter. Zetes is engaged in the Easter, and is sure to carry a fair amount of Waverley money if not given . too much weight.

At a meeting of the Waverley-Wai-totara Racing- Club oh Saturday evening, the question of again increasing the stand accommodation (on which £llOO was spent last year) was discussed. The desired improvements were estimated to cost £4OOO, which it was felt was:, beyond the club’s means at present. It was therefore decided to increase the accommodation on the members’ stand only, giving room for additional people, and increasing the space available for the jockeys and officials. The cost of this work will be £lOOO.

Stakes for the Autumn meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club amount to £7630, and for the Auckland R.C. Autumn meeting to £6BlO.

One of Sea Prince’s hoofs split on the morning before the Australian Cup was run.

No one seems to know what is the record number of horses from any one stable started in the same race in England. King William IV.’s historic desire to “start the whole fleet” when he was asked, after his accession to the throne, for instructions about running his norses at Ascot, was seemingly not carried out. The late Colonel North was fond of running anything that he had engaged, and in Avington’s “Jubilee” he started El Diablo (who finished third), Lady Hermit, and Royal Harry, and in the next year he again ran El Diablo (third again, this time to Victor Wild and Grey Leg), and also Soult and Northshampton. Last year Mr. Hulton was trebly represented in a two-year-old race at Epsom, which he won with Eastern Rose. Many trainers have, of course, saddled several horses in a race belonging to different owners, but it is doubtful if a,ny one trainer in England has ever approached the Australian record of James Scobie, who was responsible for eight of the starters for Maribyrnong Trial Stakes at Flemington. According to the “Thoroughbred Record,” an American has now gone one (or rather two) better, for at the meeting of the Piping Rock Association, trainer W. R- Midgley, of Belmont Park, New York, was the official trainer of no fewer than ten of the starters for a two-year-old race.