WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1299, 18 March 1915, Page 12

WANGANUI.

A Racecourse Accident—Wanganui J.C. Increase Stakes for Winter Meeting—A. Neale’s Team—Fordell Candidates for Masterton and Rangifikei Meetings — The Rangitikei Weights. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WANGANUI, Monday. Alex. Hall, the well-known trainer, leaves Wanganui on Thursday next for Wellington to catch Friday’s boat for Sydney on a holiday trip. Denise Orme will be given a spell while her trainer is away. A serious accident happened on the racecourse last Tuesday afternoon, when a lad named Thetford, in Albert Jackson’s employ, was schooling Howler over the hurdles. The gelding crashed into an obstacle, with the result that he fell, the lad being pitched off and apparently landing on his head. He was picked up in an unconscious condition, and with an arm broken. An operation was performed on Friday, but the lad still

lies in an unconscious condition, inquiries to-day showing that he had. made no improvement. The Wanganui Jockey Club has decided to increase the stake money for the winter meeting by a total of £330. The extr amoney will be added to the hack events, all of which —flat, hurdle and steeplechase events —will now be worth £l5O. The prize money for the big steeplechase, the Century Hurdles and other open events will remain the same as last year, except in the case of the Grandstand Steeplechase (run on the second day), the value of which to the winning horse has been reduced from £250. to £245, in order that the winner will not incur a penalty in the Great Northern Steeplechase.

The ten-shilling tote has not come to stay in Wanganui yet, the Wanganui Jockey Club having decided not to have it again until such time as more totalisator accommodation can be provided. The present tote house was found all too small to provide the necessary windows and other facilities required, and the result was that the experiment at the Cup meeting was not a success. Judging by the number of 10s. tickets sold the innovation was popular with the public, but it cost the Club about £3OO to provide the extra staff, tickets, etc., and the total investments were then slightly below last year’s figures. It is intended as soon as possible to enlarge the lawn by carrying the fence back from the tote house and erecting another tote house outside. The present tote house will then be used entirely for the lawn, and £1 tickets, only sold therefrom, while the outside tote will be a ten shilling one..

Alf. Neale has now got a team of four horses under h.s charge, including Crown Head, Euroco, a five-year-old mare named Kawau (by Kelburne) and a three-year-old colt by Gravitation out of a Sou’-wester mare. The latter has just been broken in, and is a nice looking sort. Neale is a very careful trainer, and thoroughly understands his business, so can be depended upon to get the best possible results from the horses placed, under his care.

F. Tilley accepted with Ararat, Leonta and Austin at Masterton, but the former will probably not be taken over and may not be seen out until the Rangitikei meeting comes round. Austin is very well treated in the Opaki Welter, one mile, in which the son of Advance has 8.10. He runs some good races and some bad ones, but if he is well and in the humour on Wednesday should take a power of beating. Leonta has 8.10 in the Cup, run over a mile and a quarter, and is expected by his connections to run a big race. The long-striding son of Conqueror is credited with having made considerable improvement since the Wanganui meeting, and if he has any luck at all in the early stages can be depended upon to be well up at the finish.

The weights for the Rangitikei R.C. meeting, to be held on the 24th and 25th inst., have been declared by Mr. G. Morse, whose adjustments are likely to bring a satisfactory response from owners when acceptances are due. Jackman (11.2) is not overweighted in the hurdles, and if back to form must be hard to beat. Naupata (9.11) also reads well. Of the others, Moutoa Girl (9.13) might prove one of the hardest to beat. She has plenty of pace and can stay, so if she jumps well should make a good hurdler.

Combustion (9.7), Sylvan Dale (8.9) and Durane (8.0) appear to be all nicely weighted in the Pukenui Welter, seven furlongs, while in the fivefurlong hack race Powder Fox (9.3), King Chiara (8.13) and Bivouac (7.7) read as well as anything. In view of his Wanganui Cup performance, Master Lupin must be given a great chance in the Rangitikei Cup with 8.9 on his back. Gold Soult (8.5) and Sir Alba (8.5) should also run well, while of the others Ararat (7.0) reads best. If the daughter of Advance is kept for this event she is sure to take a power of beating, as she is a good filly. In the Carnarvon Hack, of six furlongs, Park (9.0) and New York (8.11) should run well, while Mahlstick (7.0) reads best amongst the lightweights. Goldstream (8.9) looks to have a good chance in the Scott Memorial. Ineuru (8.10) should also run prominently. Austin (8.10) is well treated in the Parewanui Welter, eight and a-half furlongs, but the son of Advance is running at Masterton on Wednesday and may incur a penalty. Lubriline (8.5) and Boldstroke (8.1) read best of the others.