AUSTRALIAN JOCKEY CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1480, 5 September 1918, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN JOCKEY CLUB.

SPRING MEETING. Shortly all eyes will be focused on the spring meeting of the Australian Jockey Club. Ever since the late Mr. G. G. Stead’s successes at Randwick, and, indeed, years before, New Zealand owners have been represented there periodically, almost regularly we might say. The attractions are so great. The stakes are so rich, the variety of events are so varied that they give the good horses opportunities, while there are races near Sydney within the metropolitan area that are open to the second raters. The programme of the A.J.C., which extends over four days and which commences on Saturday, October 5, and will be continued on the following Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, is as rich in prizes as can be expected; indeed, there is probably no other racing club in the world at the present time that is offering as much added money for 24 races covering a similar period.

This is saying something, but it is, nevertheless, true. There has been no programme quite so attractive since the outbreak of war. The A.J.C. Derby will be worth well over 5000sovs in added money, the Metropolitan Handicap over 4000sovs, the Craven Plate 2000 sovs, the Epsom Handicap, the Spring Stakes and Randwick Plate 1500sovs each, the Breeders’ Plate and the Gimcrack Stakes 1250sovs each, the Clibbon Stakes 600sovs, the Trial Stakes, Kensington Handicap, Shorts Handicap, Squatters’ Handicap, High-weight Handicap, Waverley Handicap, the Grantham Stakes and Final Handicap each of 500sovs. while the two hurdle races and the two steeplechases are worth 400sovs each, making a most attractive bill-of-fare, which some day may be made more so for jumpers, whose New Zealand owners would probably nominate more freely if their value were increased. The date of closing of entries for all events and first forfeits for the Epsom and Metropolitan Handicaps, Derby, Breeders’ Plate and Gimcrack Stakes is September 9. The first forfeit of Isov for each race is to be paid with the entry. The secretaries of the Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay Metropolitan Clubs in New Zealand will take forfeits and entries up to 4 p.m. on that date.