WAIRARAPA.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1486, 17 October 1918, Page 11

WAIRARAPA.

Future Movements of Mr. W. R. Kemball’s Team —Tuticorn May be Tried Over Hurdles —Chimera in Great Heart —Wairarapa Horses Engaged at N.Z. Cup Meeting—War Distinction Conferred Upon Leading Local Sportsman —Mqsterton R.C.’s Thorough Methods. v MASTERTON, Friday. Red Ribbon’s withdrawal from the New Zealand Cup did not come as a surprise locally, as W. Garrett has only had her up about a month. She is being kept going in view of the Auckland Cup. Mr. R. D. Morrison has engaged five of his present yearlings in the Avondale Stakes of 1919, and the •same number have been nominated by the Masterton sportsman for the Avondale Guineas th e following year. It was found necessary to bracket no less than 36 of the 42 horses engaged in the Trial Plate at the Masterton meeting. Hydrus has been nominated for the Waverley meeting next month, • and as he is not engaged at Trentham may make the trip north. It was found necessary to build six extra boxes on the Opaki course this week. This makes a total of 70 boxes at present on the club’s property. W. Hawthorne will leave for Trentham at the conclusion of the local, fixture, and will then go on to Riccarton with a portion of Mr. Kembali’s team. Ben Nichols is to do the Avondale and Auckland spring meetings with several other members of the stable. It is expected the local sportsman will play an important part in weight-for-age events this season. Tuticorn has shown considerable improvement since coming into T. Pritchard’s stable. He may be tried over hurdles in the near future. Among the entries for the Wanganui Guineas of 1919 are the following Wairarapa horses: —Duration, Quotation, Affectation, Rose Wreath, Murihiku, Hyades, Vasilkov, Missgold, Misslove, Misslass, Missmaid, and Missmorn. Brown Joe is being kept going at Opaki in view of the hunters’ events at the Wellington meeting. T. Higgins still has hopes of winning a race with this gelding. Chimera has been responsible for some good gallops on the local track lately, and J. Gravestock has Mr. Vallance’s sprinter very well just now. The Provocation —Silken Rein gelding in P. Daly’s stable is showing promise, and in the short gallops he has been restricted to has shown that he will know what is required of him when asked to step out in earnest. Trainers at Tauherenikau have taken advantage of the 'fine weather lately, and serviceable work has been done by Form Up, Cyresian, Comment, Occasion, and several youngsters. The following Wairarapa-trained horses claim engagements in the principal handicap events at Riccarton next month: —N.Z. Cup: Snub. Stewards’ Handicap: Hymestra, Nanna, Damien, Belle Noir, Form Up, Cyresian and Torfreda. Metropolitan Handicap: Snub and Form Up. Jockey Club Handicap: Nanna, Hymestra, Belle Noir, Form Up, Cyresian, Torfreda and Damien. Stead Memorial: Nanna, Form Up, Cyresian and Torfreda. Among the appointments recently made by His Majesty the King is the name of Mr. W. E. Bidwill, th e wellknown Wairarapa sportsman, who has had the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (fifth class) bestowed upon him for services rendered in connection with the war. Mr. Bidwill has taken a very keen interest in the welfare of the soldiers in training at Featherston, and it was mainly due to his efforts that the Soldiers’ Club at the latter place was erected. As president of the Wairarapa Racing Club, Mr. Bidwill has always been to the fore in patriotic matters, and the club’s donations compare very favourably with those of other district bodies. There is every prospect of this district being well represented at the Auckland Cup meeting, as besides several horses having engagements in the classic events, the following have been nominated for the principal flat races: Red Ribbon, Snub, Form Up, Cyresian, Damien, Belle Noir, Hymestra, Nanna, Torfreda, and Railand. There are few racing clubs in the Dominion which provide better accommodation for visiting trainers and jockeys than the Masterton Racing Club. The accommodation house at Opaki is capable of looking after 100 visitors, and is under the personal supervision of Mrs. McConkey, wife

of the caretaker of the course. There is a large dining-hall, which will take between 70 and SO at a sitting, besides a social hall. Everything connected with the place is spotlessly clean, and it is no wonder that visitors who have been catered for during the race gatherings held at Opaki are enthusiastic about the hospitality bestowed upon them by Mrs. McConkey. The writer had a look over the place during the week, and found everything in perfect order in view of the coming meeting.