WEST COAST, SOUTH ISLAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1305, 29 April 1915, Page 12

WEST COAST, SOUTH ISLAND.

Racing Commission Inspect Reefton J.C.’s Course —Notes on the Reefton Gathering—lmprovement to Hokitika Trotting Track.

(From Our Travelling- Reporter.) REEFTON, April 24. The Racing Commission, under the Amending Act, passed through Reefton on the 18th inst. They were invited to inspect the Reefton Jockey Club’s course and appointments, and expressed themselves delighted with what they saw. The appointments are quite up to date, and the course was looking at its best, so that it was li-tle wonder the Commission were particularly pleased with what they saw of the Reefton Club’s ground. They left immediately afterwards for Westport. The Reef ton Jockey Club have every reason to be pleased at the result of their autumn meeting, held on Wednesday, April 14. The day was fine, although the day previous did not augur well for fine weather, rain falling heavily all the afternoon. The course, however, was in good order, although somewhat holding, and by the time the last event was disposed of the evening shadows had commenced to fall. The various events were full of interest, and it says much for the weight adjuster, Mr. J. Noble, that in nearly every event the proverbial blanket would have covered the first four or five horses. In the Reefton Trot, the scratch horse, Voter, put up an excellent performance by running through a big field and doing the journey in 4.52. He was, however, ridden a very patient race by C. McGregor, and the reception given the horse at the finish must have been very pleasing to his joint owners, Messrs. Lochore and Rathbone.

During the meeting the sum of £6586 was put through the totalisator by Mr. H. Janson, being an increase of £1242 on the amount handled last year, and a record for any one day at Reefton.

Mr. H. Butland, the starter for the various coastal clubs, bids fair to make a good name for himself as the result of his despatches at Reefton. There was only one that could be called an indifferent despatch. In all the others he was singularly successful, and at the l Kumara and Hokitika meetings he was similarly successful. The jockeys have already learnt that they cannot take any liberties with

him at the post, and so act accord? ingly. The writer ventures to state that so capable a starter will not long remain unwanted by the larger clubs. The Coastal clubs’ autumn meetings, have been favoured with good fields this year, quite in contradistinction to the Christmas and New Year meetings. Fields of ten and eleven were fairly common, and should such continue the Kumara Club in particular will have to widen their course. This club’s course is not what it should be, and the committee should consider the advisableness of spending some of its credit balance on improvements to track if it wishes to see good performers at its meetings. The meeting just held resulted in a profit of over £2OO. A substantial increase in the stake money offered would no doubt act as a great inducement to owners to nominate, together with an improved racing track.

One of the greatest topics of conversation among owners of trotting horses is the great improvement made on the Hokitika trotting track this Easter. The surface was splendid; in fact, it would be difficult to mention a track in the Dominion with so fine a finish. The Trotting Club has done wonders to finish so good a track, and this, too, in the face of not having a totalisator permit. The hope is expressed, however, that their tenacity and perseverance will be rewarded by the Racing Commission looking upon. their application for a permit with favourable eyes and granting this progressive club one of those to be allotted to trotting clubs.

The stipendiary steward, Mr. C. S. Patterson, of Wanganui, had an easy time this autumn on the Coast. In fact, beyond asking questions of the riders on two occasions, there was nothing else that called for enquiry at the three meetings, and unless he can attend officially other meetings than the Coast he can hardly hope to make a name for himself by sheeting home misdemeanours to offending riders and others. The racing on the Coast this autumn was particularly clean and good, and the management generally of the various club officials called for favourable comment.

It is hoped that the Greymouth Metropolitan Club will see the wisdom of holding its second meeting in the autumn instead of the spring next season. At present this club holds the only meeting on the Coast in the spring, whereas were it to fall in with the other clubs in the autumn it would assist them as well as inducing a greater number of horses to be present at its own meeting. as there would then be five days’ racing instead of three as at present, and only the same ground for horses to go over, Greymouth being the centre of the other coastal towns.

Messrs. Donnellan Bros.* new purchase, Invader, did not distinguish himself at the Coast meetings, his running stamping him as a very moderate horse indeed. He, however, looks very tired, and perhaps a short spell would have a judicious effect upon his subsequent running. In Merton, however, they have got hold of a good little ’un. The way he carried his impost of 11.3 in the County Hack, of six furlongs, at Reefton was a treat to see. Wild Bird (8.11) was with him all the way, and in a ding-dong race over the last three furlongs he just managed to last longer and beat her by half a length. He was fortunate, inasmuch as .had Rurik not fallen he might have been in front of the winner, as the former was making a fast run and pulling double when he struck Merton’s heels and came down. R. McDonald (the rider), although stunned for a time, was fortunately not hurt, and was able to ride again during the afternoon.