GISBORNE RACING CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1410, 3 May 1917, Page 9

GISBORNE RACING CLUB.

STEEPLECHASE MEETING. Active preparations are being made by the officials of the Gisborne Racing Club for their steeplechase meeting, which takes place on the club’s course, Te Hapara, on Thursday and Saturday, June 14 and 16. The gathering in question is one o' the most popular ‘n the North Island and coming a little over a week after the Auckland R.C.’s Great Northern meeting is certain to receive considerable attention from northern owners and trainers. The programme, full particulars of which appear elsewhere, is a most attractive one, providing special inducements to owners of steeplechasers, who can be rebed upon to extend wide patronage to the fixture. The steeplechase meeting of the Gisborne Racing Club has always held rank as one of the best jumping fixtures of the season in New Zealand, and with so many horses in framing for the winter prizes, the club’s enterprise should result in record nominations being received by the capable secretary, Mr. H. E. Dodd, on Friday.

May 25, when entries close at 9 p.m. for all events to be decided on the two days.

Principal interest on the opening day is centred in the Gisborne Steeple chase Handicap, of 400sovs., about three miles, while the chief event on the second day, the Te Hapara Steeplechase, of 200sovs., about two nrles and a-half, affords a furthur opportunity to the ’chasing brigade to annex a valuable stake at the meeting. In addition to the events named, two other important crosscountry events figure on the programme, the Tramway Hack Steeplechase, of 150sovs., two miles, to be decided on the first day, and the Turanganui Steeplechase of 150sovs., two miles, which comes up for decision on the concluding day, so that owners of ’chasers have plenty of scope to earn d’stinction with their horses. The Park Hurdles Handicap, of 25050v5., two miles (first day), and the Gisborne Hurdles Handicap, of 200sovs., one mile and three-quarters, offer special opportunities to jumpers and invest the meeting with special ’nterest to lovers of jumping events. The big flat race on the opening day is the Winter Oats Handicap, of 175sovs., one mile and a-quarter, which invariably attracts a good field, and has been productive of many sterling fin’shes in the past. On the conc’uding day handicap horses will be given a chance to display their galloping powers in the Waikanae Handicap, o' 150sovs., seven furlongs, and a splendid field should be on hand to contest this event. Sprinters are offered special facilities to demonstrate their

speediness in the Flying Handicap, of 150sovs.. six furlongs, and the Farewell Handicap, of 150sovs., one mle, to be decided on the first and second days respectively. In addition a couple of hack handicaps figure on each day’s programme, and the excellence of the varied two days’ attraction should make a special appeal to sportsmen throughout the North Island. The trip to Gisborne is not attended w th any risk or inconvenience, and there is every prospect of the forthcoming meeting going down in the annals of this progressive club as a record one in every respect.

Mr, George Morse came through the operation performed on Sunday night week at the Huia Hospital, Auck’and, very well, but has been very weak s'nee and his condition is still a matter of grave concern.